Archdiocese of Newark death notices: September 2021
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Mass of Christian Burials was held in August.
Reverend Oscar Martin Dominguez
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 18, 2021, at Saint Anthony of Padua in Elizabeth, N.J. for Reverend Oscar Martin Dominguez, who died on Aug. 9, 2021.
Father Oscar was the pastor of Saint John the Baptist in Fairview, N.J. Prior to that, he was the pastor of St Anthony of Padua, Elizabeth.
Sister Arline Zurich, O.S.B.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 28, 2021, at St. Walburga Monastery, in Elizabeth, N.J. for Sister Arline Zurich, a Benedictine Sister, who died on Aug. 24, 2021.
Former ministry in Archdiocese of Newark: 1956-1957 St. Benedict’s, Newark; 1957-1959 Bender Memorial Academy, Elizabeth; 1959-1960 St. Joseph’s, East Rutherford; 1960-1961 Immaculate Conception, Hackensack; 1961-1964 St. Joseph’s, Maplewood; 1974-1978 St. Joseph’s Maplewood – Principal; 1986-1987 Benedictine Academy, Elizabeth – Library; 1987-1989 St. Benedict’s, Newark – Principal; 2000-2014 Coordinator of the Holy Childhood Association, Archdiocese of Newark, Pontifical Mission Societies.
Sister Joseph Nelida Richard
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Aug. 17 at Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station, N.J. for Sister Joseph Nelida Richard, who died on Aug. 5, 2021.
Sister Joseph Nelida was born in Boston, Mass. Bernadette, as she was named, was the daughter of Joseph and Nelida (Pellerin) Richard. She entered the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth on March 6, 1956, and was a member for 65 years.
Sister Joseph Nelida graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station with a B.S. degree in Education and from Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass. with a MA degree in administration. Sister Joseph Nelida was an educator in New Jersey. She served as a teacher at Mt. St. Joseph Children’s Center, Totowa, and St. Nicholas School, Passaic. Sister Joseph was principal in St. Nicholas School, Passaic, and also at Saint Clare’s School, Clifton. Following her 50 years in the field of education in the Paterson Diocese, she moved to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity at Convent Station, where she managed cars for the entire congregation.
Sister Joseph, “Aunt Jo,” was referred to as the “Fun Nun” by her nieces and nephews. Her smile and love of children endeared her to all she ministered to in the field of education. Her friends remember her as one who enjoyed good laughs and one who enjoyed playing.
Elizabeth Seton reminds us of, “All that God asks of us is the Heart.” Sister Joseph’s ministry with children was her Heart.
She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her sister Pauline and many nieces, nephews, and also grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
Featured image: The altar surrounded by bronze statues of Mary and the 12 Apostles at Pentecost, as seen at Saint Gertrude Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum of the Resurrection in Colonia, N.J. (Courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)
