Sister Rosemary Endres, CSJ, 97

Sister Rosemary Endres, CSJ,  (Sister Anne Michael), died at the Teresian House on April 17. Sister Rosemary was born on Feb. 17, 1928, in Syracuse, the daughter of Philip Michael and Wilhelmina Ballway Endres. In 1945, she completed her elementary and secondary education at St. Vincent de Paul School. Sister Rosemary entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Troy, and made First Vows in 1952 and pronounced Final Vows in August 1959.

Sister earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and pursued graduate study at the College of Saint Rose. Her early years of ministry were in the elementary schools of the Albany Diocese as well as in the schools of the Diocese of Honolulu in Hawaii. 

As Schenectady neighborhoods changed, parishes were committed to serving the needs of their neighbors, Sister Rosemary and Sister Joseph, a former teacher in Schenectady schools, were instrumental in helping to shape these responses. They were parish associates, visiting homebound parishioners. Hamilton Hill became the center of their parish/neighborhood service. They not only organized the Food Pantry and the Thrift Store but engaged in the “Hill” Neighborhood Association, Police Advisory Center and other parish and community groups. Parish volunteers were trained in working in these agencies as a way of becoming “neighbors helping neighbors.” Sister Rosemary’s 40 years of ministry in the Hamilton Hill neighborhood extended to serving throughout the city to foster a community spirit which has enabled this service to expand and continue. Her life was characterized not only by her deep sense of zeal in ministry but also by a wonderful sense of humor.

Sister Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, Philip and Wilhelmina, and her sisters, Florence and Helen. Her memory is cherished by the Sisters of St. Joseph, her nephews, Charles, Mark and Donald Sinclair, and her nieces, Suzanne Golden, Denise Nolan, Jane Sadlier, Mary Kraushaar, Maureen Kurtz and their families. The Sisters of St. Joseph are grateful for the care she received at St. Joseph’s Provincial House and the Teresian House Community.

Sister Rosemary’s Funeral Liturgy was celebrated on April 23 at the Provincial House. Contributions in Sister Rosemary’s memory may be made to: Office of Mission Advancement, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham, N.Y., 12110