Archdiocese of Newark obituaries: September 2022
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in September.
Sister Janet Lehmann, SC
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 9, 2022, at Holy Family Chapel in Covent Station, N.J., for Sister Janet Lehmann, a member of Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth.
Sister Lehmann died on Sept. 4, 2022, at the age of 79.
Sister Lehmann served in the ministry of healthcare. She served as a staff nurse and instructor at All Souls Hospital, Morristown; nursing instructor at Seton Hall University, South Orange; and clinical specialist-cardiovascular nursing at St. Joseph Hospital & Medical Center, Paterson. She was also a professor of nursing at the College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station.
Sister Lehmann was a member of the Leadership Council for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, for eight years.
Always dedicated to the needs of the poor, Sister Lehmann had a life ministry change by serving as a volunteer in the House of Presence, Duval, Haiti. For many years, Sister Janet remained in Jacmel, Haiti, as the Director of the School of Nursing of the University of Notre Dame, Jacmel campus. Sister Lehmann was instrumental in the lives of many young Haitian women and men, reaching educational heights they never thought possible.
As life grew more dangerous in Haiti, Sister Lehmann returned to the United States, where she continued to support her ministry and the people of Haiti from afar. Sister Janet died unexpectedly in her home, the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ.
Sister Mary Ellen Brulinski, CSSF
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 8, 2022, at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in Lodi, N.J., for Sister Mary Ellen Brulinski, a member of the Felician Franciscan Sisters.
She died on Sept. 4, 2022.
Sister Brulinski worked at Our Lady of Lourdes Care Center in Lodi, Saint Valentine School in Bloomfield, Saint Theresa School in Cresskill, Sacred Heart School in Irvington, and Immaculate Conception High School in Lodi. She was also a formation director, campus minister, provincial vicar, and provincial historian responsible for Volume 1& 2 of Provincial History, Immaculate Conception High School.
Sister Dolores Russo, S.C, (Sister Robert Martin)
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Aug. 22, 2022, for Sister Dolores Russo, a Sister of Charity-Halifax for 65 years, at Saint Barnabas Parish, Bellmore, NY.
Sister Russo died on Aug. 14, 2022, at 90.
Sister Russo was missioned to Saint Sebastian School, Woodside, from 1969-1970 and Our Lady of the Cenacle School, Richmond Hill, from 1970-71. In 1971, Sister Russo became Principal of Saint Sylvester School, Brooklyn, and held that position until June 1980. In 1980, Sister Dolores became Assistant Superintendent in the Archdiocese of Newark until 1986. In 1986, she joined the New Community Corp., Newark, N.J., as an Educational Planner and Development. In 1994, her educational career brought her back to New York as a teacher at the Frederick Douglas Literacy Center in Brooklyn. She served there until 2002, when she retired and settled in Forest Hills, Lynbrook, and Wantagh.
Sister Russo was also missioned to Massachusetts, Caldwell, N.J.; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and the Rockville Centre Diocese.
Sister Russo retired and lived in Wantagh, N.Y, from 2012 until her death.
Sister Margaret Annina Confoy, SC
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister Margaret Annina Confoy on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Holy Family Chapel, Covent Station, N.J.
Sister Confoy died on Sept. 15, 2022.
She entered the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth on Sept. 8, 1946, and was a member for 76 years.
Sister Confoy graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J., with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. She was an educator in New Jersey, Florida, and the Virgin Islands. In New Jersey, she served as a teacher in St. Cecilia, Englewood; St. Patrick’s in Elizabeth; St. Joseph in Newark; and St. Thomas in Bloomfield. Sister Confoy also taught at St. Mark, Boynton Beach, Florida; St Francis School, Riviera Beach, Florida; and Saints Peter and Paul School in the Virgin Islands. In 2010 she returned to the Convent of Saint Elizabeth at Convent Station until she moved to St. Anne Villa and finally to Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center in Caldwell.
Sister Confoy loved being a Sister of Charity and was delighted to celebrate her 75th anniversary as a Sister of Charity with the sisters with whom she entered. She had a gift for connecting with people because of both her personality and interest in them. You would immediately catch her spirit of welcome and joy when visiting her. Sister Confoy wanted to keep in touch with people whether she was living in the Villa or at Saint Catherine Healthcare Center. Her sister friends looked forward to her daily phone calls, as well as did her nieces. Sister Margaret loved her community and loved her family. She possessed a genuine zest for life.
Father Alfred V. Celiano
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Alfred V. Celiano on Sept. 30, 2022 at Immaculate Conception Chapel at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.
Father Celiano died at the age of 94 on Sept. 4, 2022.
He was ordained on May 30, 1960, and was a Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.
Father John F. Renard
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father John F. Renard on Oct. 4, 2022 at Saint Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church in Brick, N.J.
Father Renard died on Sept. 21, 2022 at the age of 83.
Father Renard was ordained to the Priesthood in 1965 following studies at Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, N.J.
His assignments in the Diocese of Newark include Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Roseland, St. Aloysius Parish in Jersey City, Epiphany Parish in Cliffside Park, and St. Anthony Parish in Northvale. He served as pastor of St. John Nepomucene in Guttenberg from 1991-2001. He was then appointed pastor of Our Lady of Victories in Harrington Park until 2006, when he retired to Brick, N.J. In his retirement, he continued to work with Catholic churches in the area including St. Dominic in Brick and St. Elizabeth in Avon-By-The-Sea.
Father Frederick L. Miller
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Frederick L. Miller on Oct. 4 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange, N.J.
Father Miller, a beloved priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sept. 28, 2022. He was the Spiritual Director of St. Andrew’s Hall College Seminary and Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.
Father Miller was ordained on May 27, 1972, in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newark, N.J. after studies at Seton Hall University, Darlington. He also earned an M.A. in Dogmatic Theology from St. John’s University, N.Y. and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in Rome.
Father Miller served as Parochial Vicar at: St. Agnes Church, Clark; St. Anne’s Church, Jersey City; and St. Thomas More Church, Fairfield. He was also the Executive Director of the World Apostolate of Fatima and Director of the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (the Blue Army Shrine) in Washington, N.J.
He taught more than a dozen courses on theology and spirituality at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Penna.; St. Joseph Seminary, Dunwoodie, N.Y.; Franciscan University of Steubenville, Penna.; the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, M.D.; and Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University, N.J.
Father Miller was the author of more than 100 articles in various journals and magazines, as well as the author of two books, “The Trial of Faith of St. Therese of Lisieux” and “The Grace of Ars.” He preached countless retreats to religious brothers and sisters, diocesan presbyterates, deacons, and groups of lay people. He also appeared in many video productions, teaching various aspects of the faith, and was a frequent guest on ETWN. He also preached more than 50 first Mass homilies for newly ordained priests.
He was spiritual director to countless seminarians and a trusted formation advisor over many decades, at five different seminaries. Through the thousands of priests that he helped form through his teaching, spiritual direction, and holy priestly witness, Father Miller had an invaluable impact on the Church in the United States. Through his priestly life and witness, the clergy of the United States has been greatly enriched, and his enormous impact is now felt in parishes and ministries throughout the country through the priests he helped form. The Church in the United States is greatly indebted to Fr. Frederick L. Miller, a priest of Jesus Christ.
