Archdiocese of Newark death notices: November 2021
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Mass of Christian Burials was held in October.
Reverend Wlodzimierz Las, S.D.S.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 8, 2021, at Saint Joseph Parish in Hackensack, N.J. for Reverend Wlodzimierz Las, S.D.S., who died on Oct. 3, 2021.
Father Wlodzimierz was the pastor of Saint Joseph Parish.
Sister Michel Rodgers, O.P.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 18, 2021, at St. Aloysius Church in Caldwell, N.J. for Sister Michel Rodgers, O.P., who died on Oct. 11, 2021.
A Dominican Sister of Caldwell celebrating her 70th jubilee, Sister Michel earned her bachelor’s degree in social studies and English from Caldwell College (now University) and a master’s degree in sociology from Duquesne University.
She taught for a number of years at St. Aloysius School and Mount Saint Dominic Academy, both in Caldwell, before teaching at St. Mary’s School, Rutherford, and St. Cassian School, Upper Montclair. Sister Michel then joined the sociology faculty at Caldwell University in Caldwell. Sister also served for several years as both principal and teacher at St. Francis de Sales School in Abaco, Bahamas. After returning from Abaco, she rejoined the sociology department at Caldwell University. She began almost two decades in administration as director of academic advisement, assistant dean of academic affairs, and vice president and dean of student life.
In 1995, she was awarded the Caldwell Cup by the university to recognize her unique contribution to the campus. Always active even in retirement, Sister Michel then assisted the resident manager at Marian Manor in Caldwell. In 2010, Sister Michel was selected as a member of the inaugural class of the Caldwell University Athletics Hall of Fame for her significant role in supporting the university’s intercollegiate athletic programs.
Sister Genevieve Marie Kelleher, S.S.N.D.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 29, 2021, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, in Wilton, Conn. for Sister Genevieve Marie Kelleher, S.S.N.D., who died on Oct. 24, 2021. She was 96.
After pronouncing her vows in 1947, Sister Genevieve taught or served as a librarian, for 46 years, at the Academy of the Holy Angels, Demarest, N.J. She taught at Our Lady of Monadnock Academy in Jaffrey, N.H., at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, N.H., and Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, N.Y. In her retirement, Sister Genevieve resided from 2012 at Villa Notre Dame, in Wilton, Conn., until going to Ozanam Hall in 2019.
Featured image: A statue of Mary at Maryrest Cemetery and Mausoleum in Mahwah. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)
