Sr. Dorothy Di Cristofaro, MPF, 88

Sister Dorothy Di Cristofaro, MPF, 88, died June 21 at St. Joseph Hall, Home Healthcare Center of the Filippini Sisters, Villa Walsh Motherhouse, Morristown, N.J. after a brief bout with cancer. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, June 24, at St. Lucy Chapel at Villa Walsh, Morristown, N.J.  

Born and raised in Schenectady, Sr. Dorothy entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1949. She received her habit in 1950, and made her religious profession in 1953. 

Sr. Dorothy was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English from St. John University, and a Masters of Arts in English from Villanova University. 

Sr. Dorothy taught middle school in the Archdioceses of Newark, N.J., and the Diocese of Brooklyn, and taught at Paul VI and St. Joseph High Schools in the Diocese of Camden and Villa Victoria Academy, Trenton, N.J.  

Through the years, Sr. Dorothy held many administrative roles in the Institute of the Filippini Sisters. She served as local superior and formator of postulants in the United States. For 24 years (four terms) she was General Councilor in Rome. In between these terms as General Councilor, Sr. Dorothy was sent to Medstead, England, where she held different roles, one being Regional Superior. In total, Sr. Dorothy spent 35 years abroad. On her return to the U.S. in 2013, she served as a part-time librarian at Villa Walsh Academy. In 2014, after a stroke, Sister Dorothy became a resident at St. Joseph Hall and remained there until her death.  

Sr. Dorothy was the eldest of 11 children. She was predeceased by her parents, Pasquale and Helen Nicoletta (Di Nisio) Di Cristofaro, and her brothers Anthony, John, Paul and Mario, and sisters Mary Gatto, Julia Lewis and Patricia Di Cristofaro. She is survived by her brothers Richard (Lyn) Di Crstofaro and Joseph (Virg) Di Crstofaro and sister Irene (Peter) Mirabito, and many devoted, loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and several cousins.     

Donations in Sr. Dorothy’s name can be sent to St. Joseph Hall, c/o Sr. Ascenza Tizzano, MPF, Provincial Superior, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Ave., Morristown, N.J., 07960.