Sister Ida C. DeCastro, CSJ, 91

Sister Ida C. DeCastro, CSJ, (Sister Maria Francesca), 91, died Oct. 17 at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham. She had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for the past 66 years. 

Born in Oswego, on July 18, 1928, Sister Ida was the daughter of the late Peter and Mary Alteri DeCastro. After graduating from Oswego High School and Rochester Business Institute, Sister Ida worked for the American Red Cross. On March 19, 1953, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Troy, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1960.

Sister Ida received a bachelor’s degree in business education from The College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. She began her ministry in education by teaching business courses in high schools in the Albany Diocese and then served for 30 years at The College of Saint Rose as assistant business manager, director of financial aid, instructor of business, assistant professor of business and associate professor of business. In 2001, after a 30-year career at Saint Rose, Sister Ida began a 14-year stint with Sisters Care, a respite-care program sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province. Sister Ida retired to St. Joseph’s Provincial House in 2015 where she volunteered in the library and brought joy to the community. 

Sister Ida is survived by her beloved sisters and brothers: Teresa Hastings, Catherine DiNolfo, Dominic DeCastro and Milo DeCastro; several nieces and nephews and their families; many cousins and friends; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held in the chapel of the Provincial House on Oct. 25. Donations in Sister Ida’s memory may be made to the Development Office, Sisters of St. Joseph, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, N.Y., 12110.