Archdiocese of Newark obituaries: November 2022
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in November:
Sister Mary Dominic Piscotta, OSF
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, for Sister Mary Dominic Piscotta at Assisi House in Aston, Penna.
Sister Piscotta, 96, died in Assisi House on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022.
Sister Piscotta was born Palma Piscotta in Jersey City, N.J., where she was a Holy Rosary Parish member and a William Dickinson High School graduate. In 1951 she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, a congregation that later merged with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and professed her first vows in 1953. She had been a professed member of the congregation for 69 years. Sister Piscotta earned a B.S. in early childhood education from Seton Hall University. She ministered primarily in education and clerical work.
Sister Piscotta ministered for 27 years in the Diocese of Paterson. She began her ministry there in education and served for five years at St. Catherine School in Ringwood and eight years at St. Francis School in Haskel. Ten of her years in the diocese were spent as a teacher and later principal at Mt. Carmel School in Passaic. She also taught at St. Rose of Lima School in East Hanover for four years.
Sister Piscotta spent 25 years in the Archdiocese of Newark, where she taught for one year at St. Ann School and 10 years at Saints Peter & Paul School, both in Hoboken. She then spent 14 years at St. Aloysius School in Jersey City, first as a teacher and later as a clerical assistant and volunteer.
During her eight years in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Sister Piscotta taught at St. Benedict School, Holy Family School, and St. Francis Paola School.
Additional ministry work included three years as a volunteer at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, N.J.
In 2016 she moved to Assisi House in Aston, Penna., where she served in prayer and hospitality until her death.
Sister Piscotta is survived by her brother, Anthony Piscotta; her brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Judy Piscotta; her nieces and nephews; and her Franciscan family.
Sister Mary Ann O’Connor, OP
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, for Sister Mary Ann O’Connor at Saint Aloysius Church in Caldwell, N.J.
Sister Mary Ann O’Connor, OP, a member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell for 74 years, entered eternal life on Nov. 4, 2022 at home in Spring Lake Heights, N.J. She was 91.
Sister O’Connor entered the Sisters of Saint Dominic on Aug. 30, 1948, received the habit on April 21, 1949, made her first profession on April 22, 1950, and final profession on April 22, 1956. She was a woman of faith and compassion, which she learned from her parents, Walter and Antoinette O’Connor.
Sister O’Connor earned a BA from Caldwell University in Music, and a MM in Music Education from Catholic University of America. She also completed a Private Voice Study with Louise Natale and attended numerous liturgical conferences at Notre Dame University.
Sister spent 53 years teaching music to students of all ages. She taught at St. John the Baptist, Jersey City; St. Paul, Irvington; Mt. St. Dominic Grade School and High School, Caldwell; and St. Dominic Academy, Jersey City. Sister O’Connor was fondly remembered as an Associate Professor of Music and Department Chair at Caldwell University (formerly Caldwell College). She often produced Disney-themed performances that delighted children of all ages. She directed the Children and Adult Choirs in Our Lady of Peace, New Providence. Her final 25 years in ministry were spent at St. Catharine Parish in Spring Lake, teaching and serving as Director of Parish Music Ministry and working with the children and adult choirs.
She retired in 2013. She led a beautiful life filled with faith, family, and friends. She will be remembered for her sparkling blue eyes, lovely singing voice, ready smile, laughter at a good joke, and her patience, kindness and generosity. Sister O’Connor lived her life by the prayer of Saint Francis as an instrument of peace. Sister brought love, faith, hope, light, and joy to all who knew her. She will be missed, but her angelic voice and fond memories remain.
Sister O’Connor was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Antoinette (nee Cossolini); her brother John, and sister Joan. She is survived by her loving Sisters of Saint Dominic, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Deacon John “Fred” Smith
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 for Deacon John “Fred” Smith at Saint Philomena Church in Livingston, N.J.
Deacon Smith, 79, died surrounded by this family on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022 in Morristown, N.J.
Born in Newark, Deacon Smith was a lifelong resident of Livingston. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, he became an electrician, and eventually opened Abba Electric, Inc., which he owned and operated until the time of his passing.
One of his proudest accomplishments was being ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church. He was happiest when he was performing baptisms and weddings and was blessed to be able to baptize his five grandchildren.
Deacon Smith was an avid New York Yankees fan, and loved music, especially 50’s and 60’s rock including Elvis and Buddy Holly. You could always find him enthralled in one of his many books on the subjects of American Presidential History. He also loved his trips to Vermont with his wife and friends. He could often be heard saying, “It doesn’t get better than this” while enjoying family gatherings and vacations on Cape Cod with his cherished family.
Fred is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Susan. He also leaves behind his beloved children and their spouses, Carolyn Allen (Mark), Katy Courter, and Patrick Smith (Shannon), as well as his adored grandchildren, Riley, Chatham, Jamie, Hudson, and Dillon. He is also survived by his sister, Margie Smith, and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Fred was predeceased by his parents and his siblings.
Sister Mary Walter Dwyer, SC
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, Nov. 10, 2022 for Sister Mary Walter Dwyer at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, N.J.
Sister Dwyer was born in Jersey City, N.J., the daughter of Walter and Marion (McFaul) Dwyer. She entered the Sisters of Charity on Sept. 8, 1946 and was a member for 76 years. She died on Nov. 5, 2022.
Sister Dwyer graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. with an M.A. degree in Library Science. Sister Dwyer was an Educator in New Jersey and Florida. She served as a teacher at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Tenafly and Holy Cross School, Harrison. She was a teacher and principal at St. Joseph School, Pensacola, F.L., and principal at Saint Columba School, Newark, also serving as Neighborhood Activities Coordinator.
Her life was spent responding to St. Vincent de Paul’s call to do “more.” Her tenacity and perseverance brought needed help to many families and individuals. Prior to her retirement, she served as Financial Director and Treasurer at Marylawn of the Oranges, South Orange. She retired to Saint Columba Convent, Newark in 2009 where she remained active and connected to the Sisters of Charity Congregation, St. Columba Church, and to the neighborhood. Throughout her life Sister Mary Walter lived fully the Mission of the Sisters of Charity “to make God’s love known in the world.”
Sister Mary was predeceased by her parents, her brother Walter Dwyer, Sisters Marion Cowan and Margot Miko, nephew Thomas Cowan and niece Kathleen Miko Carroll. She is survived by her Sister of Charity family, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
Father Paul Schweizer, O.Carm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 for Father Paul Schweizer at St. Cecilia Church, Englewood, N.J.
Father Schweizer died at the age of 86 on Nov. 16, 2022 at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J.
He was born to Ervin J. Schweizer and Marguerite (nee McCarthy) Schweizer on Jan. 31, 1936, in Joliet, IL. His given name at baptism was Paul Ervin.
Father Paul Schweizer began school at Joliet Catholic High School in Joliet, Ill., and went on to Mount Carmel College, after which he entered the Carmelite novitiate at New Baltimore, Penna., in 1955. He took simple vows with the Carmelites on Aug. 22, 1956, taking the religious name of Otto, and then attended St. Bonaventure University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Philosophy in 1959. Father Paul Schweizer professed his solemn vows on Aug. 22, 1959, studied theology at Whitefriars Hall from 1959 to 1963, and went on to be awarded a master’s degree in Religious Education from Catholic University of America in 1968. Paul was ordained a Carmelite priest on May 26, 1962.
Father Schweizer’s first assignments were as chaplain and teacher at DeSales Priory in Louisville, Ky., from 1963 to 1964. In 1970 he moved to Houston, Texas, where he served as teacher and guidance counselor at Mt. Carmel High School until 1975. From 1975 to 1987, he served as associate pastor for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Newport News, Va., and then as pastor for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Louisville, Ky.
In 1988, he joined the staff at the Carmel Retreat in Mahwah, N.J., for one year before moving to Canada and serving as the Acting Director at Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Father moved back to New Jersey in 1990 to serve as pastor for 12 years at St. Joseph Parish in Bogota and then back to Mahwah to rejoin the retreat staff. His final assignment was as parochial vicar for St. Joseph Parish in Bogota from 2005 to 2010. In 2010, Father Schweizer retired to the St. Cecilia Priory, where he often celebrated Mass and led Bible study programs up to the year of his death.
He celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination at St. Cecilia on May 25, joined by Carmelites; and parishioners of St. Joseph, Bogota; and St. Cecilia.
He is survived by his sister Kathleen Burnett and his brothers at The Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary (PCM), Order of Carmelites.
