Archdiocese of Newark death notices: June 2023
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in June:
Sister Rosemarie DiCenso S.C.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, N.J. for Sister Rosemarie DiCenso (formerly Sister Robert Diane).
Sister DiCenso, 85, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died June 2, 2023, at McAuley Hall Healthcare Center, Watchung, N,J,, following a brief illness.
Sister DiCenso was born in Winthrop, Mass., the daughter of Earl and Constanza (Cedrone) DiCenso. She entered the Sisters of Charity on September 6, 1956, and was a member for 66 years.
Sister DiCenso graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, (Saint Elizabeth University) Convent Station, N.J. with a B.S. degree in Education. She was a primary grade teacher in New Jersey and Connecticut. Sister DiCenso served as a teacher at St. Bridget School, Jersey City; St. John School, New Haven, Conn.; Sacred Heart School, New Haven, Conn.; and St. Mary School, Newington, Conn. Sister DiCenso taught at St. Mary’s, Newington, Conn. for 26 years.
In 2003, Sister DiCenso moved back to New Jersey to participate in the Sisters in Transition program at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She then served in various ministries at the hospital for 11 years, most notably as Medical Student Coordinator at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Paterson, N.J.
In 2014 Sister DiCenso moved to the Convent of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J. She volunteered in the Development Office and was always ready to assist anyone in any way, anticipating the needs of others. She exemplified the words of Saint Vincent de Paul: “Let us love God … but let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.”
Sister DiCenso is survived by the Sisters of Charity, two maternal aunts, Sylvia DaCosta and Teresa Arruda, her sister Diane Winter, her brother Robert, and sister-in-law Denise, one niece, five nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Sister Anne Cunningham, S.C.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, N.J. for Sister Anne Cunningham (formerly Sister Anne Kevin).
Sister Cunningham, 87, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died Friday, June 2, 2023, at Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center, Caldwell, N.J.
Sister Cunningham was born in Newark, N.J., the daughter of Joseph F. and Mary (Greevy) Cunningham. She entered the Sisters of Charity on Sept. 6, 1956, and was a member for 66 years.
She graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J. with a B.S. degree in Business Administration and from The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC with an M.A. degree in Education.
Sister Cunningham was an educator and a business administrator in New Jersey and Connecticut. She served as a teacher in St. Teresa School, Summit, NJ; St. Anne School, Jersey City; and De Paul Catholic High School, Wayne. She served as Administrator Assistant in St. Mary Hospital, Passaic and was in Business Administration in the Berkeley School, Paterson. She then served as a Hospitaler in St. Raphael Hospital, New Haven, Conn. She next worked in Computer Services in the Administration Building, Convent Station. She served as secretary in Rutgers University, Piscataway; Assistant Director of CILAH, College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station; and a teacher in St. Bernard School, Bridgewater.
Sister Cunningham had a great love for family and especially for her nieces. When she spoke about her past works, she often mentioned how important and meaningful was her time at Rutgers University. Another significant experience was ministry in the ER at Saint Raphael’s Hospital in New Haven, Conn. During her final years, both at St. Anne Villa and Saint Catherine of Sienna Healthcare Center, Sister Cunningham could be seen sitting with a sister in her room and listening as well as just being present to any person in need. She lived out the words of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, “Keep well to the grace of the moment…do your best and leave the rest to God.”
Sister Cunningham was predeceased by her parents, and siblings Joseph, John, Kevin, and Marie Goullet. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth; sisters-in law Elaine Cunningham, Joan Cunningham; and her many friends. In addition, she has many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Sister Carlita Vollmer, F.S.P.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at Marian Woods, Hartsdale, N.Y. for Sister Carlita Vollmer (formerly Catherine Vollmer).
Sister Vollmer, 101, passed away peacefully at St. Cabrini Nursing Home on June 21, 2023, after a short illness.
Sister Vollmer was born on Jan. 19, 1922 in Paterson, N.J. Her parents, Charles J. Vollmer and Marie (Byrne) baptized her Catherine, but she was always known as Kathleen. She had four sisters, Bernadette, Alice, Marie, and Julia. Another girl, who was baptized Carlita, died as an infant.
Sister Vollmer attended St. Agnes Grammar School in Paterson, N.J. but knew the Franciscan Sisters from St. Bonaventure’s Parish in Paterson. She attended St. Mary’s High School, also in Paterson, graduating in 1939. On Sept. 8 of the same year, she entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters in Peekskill, N.Y. at the age of 17. After her religious profession in 1941, Sister Vollmer attended Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, N.Y. earning her B.A. in History in 1952. She was assigned to the field of education and began her teaching career at St. Joseph’s School in Bogota, N.J. Through her early years, she taught at various elementary schools in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York.
In 1967, Sister Vollmer joined the sisters who opened a residential school in the town of Apollo, Bolivia. She ministered there until 1971. Upon her return to the states, she taught for one year at Sacred Heart School in Highland Falls, N.Y. before studying nursing at St. Clare’s Hospital in New York for one year. Her studies were interrupted when she was asked to become the Superior and Administrator of Queen of Angels Convent, Peekskill. This was a new residence for retired sisters who moved into the renovated former Peekskill Hospital. She held that position until 1977 when she happily returned to Bolivia for another two years.
Upon her return, she cared for the sisters in the sisters’ infirmary at Mount St. Francis, Peekskill, N.Y. where she served until 1983. That experience led her to become part of the staff at St. Vincent’s Residence in Montclair.
During that time, Sister Vollmer became one of the founders of the new congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace in 1986. She ministered as Assistant Secretary at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in West Orange, N.J. for 11 years.
In 2002, Sister Vollmer retired from active ministry and joined the community of sisters at Sr. Joseph’s Parish, Lincoln Park, N.J. where she spent her time visiting the homebound and the residents in local nursing homes.
In July 2017, Sister Vollmer joined the Marian Woods Community of sisters residing in Hartsdale, NY. This year marks her 84th year in religious life.
We will always remember Sr. Carlita’s sense of humor and candor along with her kindness and gratitude.
Sister Vollmer was predeceased by her sisters, Bernadette Roskob(Frederick); Alice Saulenas (William); Julia Vollmer; Marie Poetz/Stickelberger (Jerry); and baby sister, Carlita. Surviving are 11 loving nieces and nephews.
Father William T. Madden
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 22, 2023, concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center in Maryknoll, N.Y., for Father William T. Madden.
Father William T. Madden died on June 17, 2023, in the Assisted Living Unit at Maryknoll, N.Y. He was 97 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 65 years.
Father Madden, the only son of William and Frances Keane Madden, was born on Oct. 26, 1925, in Orange, N.J. He had one sister, Mary, who died in 1963. He attended public schools in South Orange and Maplewood and graduated from Columbia High School in June 1943. After serving one year in the U.S. Merchant Marine, he joined the U.S. Army. He attained the rank of Sergeant; and during World War II, he served in Europe with the 103rd Infantry Division and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantry Badge. After the war, he attended Seton Hall College and graduated in 1949 with a B.S. Degree in Accounting.
He worked in New York City until he entered Maryknoll on September 5, 1951. He received a Masters of Religious Education degree and was ordained on June 14, 1958. Father Madden was immediately assigned to mission in Tanzania, East Africa where he did pastoral work in the Musoma Diocese for many years. In April 1969, he was appointed Third Consultor for the Africa Region.
In 1975, Father Madden was assigned to the Development Department and appointed Manager of the New York City Residence. During this time, he also worked in the inner city parish of St. Antoninus Church in Newark, N.J.
In October 1976, Father Madden was reassigned to the Africa Region to do pastoral work in Eldoret Diocese in Kenya. He was appointed the first Regional Superior of the newly-established Kenya Region in April 1978, and reappointed for a second term in May 1981. After completion of six years as Regional Superior, in September 1984, Father Madden was again assigned to work in the United States in the Treasury Department. He worked in Treasury for two years and in 1986, returned to mission in Kenya. During his years in Kenya, besides being in pastoral and administrative work, Father Madden also was very active in the Charismatic Renewal and was on the National Service Team from its beginning in 1977.
Father Madden left Kenya in December 1992; and in January 1993, he began work in the Controllers Office at Maryknoll, N.Y. After a sabbatical in 1999, he was assigned to the Retirement Community (now Senior Missioner Community) in May 2000, and worked part-time with the Society’s Health Services, as well as with the Society’s Business Office. Father Madden also helped out in local parishes and belonged to a Prayer Group at Holy Rosary Church in Hawthorne, N.Y. He resided at the Maryknoll Society Center in Ossining, N.Y.
Father Madden is survived by his nephew, Roy (Marni) Kolarsick, of Orlando, FL; his neice, Karen (Tom) Traina, of Toms River, N.J.; his cousin, Michael (Sheila) Madden, of Orlando, Fla., and his many friends.
