Obituaries for December 2024

Let us pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in December.

Father Francis Xavier Aracil, SDB

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Marian Shrine Chapel in Haverstraw/Stony Point, N.Y., for Father Francis Xavier Aracil, known as Father Javier, who died on Dec. 18 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. He was 90.

Father Aracil was a professed Salesian of Don Bosco for 72 years and a priest for 61. He had been a member of the Marian Shrine community since 2018.

Father Aracil served in various Salesian institutions in the Newark Archdiocese. In his early years, he taught Latin, Spanish, and French at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., and assisted with study hall, dormitory, dining room, and recreation. He later served three terms as assistant pastor at St. Anthony’s Parish in Elizabeth, N.J., focusing on the Hispanic community. In 2014, he was assigned to the Don Bosco Residence in Orange, N.J., where he helped at Our Lady of the Valley Parish and mentored young Salesians.

Born on Sept. 4, 1934, in Alcoy, Spain, to Baldomero and Concepcion Gosalbez Aracil, he endured hardships during the Spanish Civil War, including his father’s and grandfather’s arrest by Communists and being separated from his parents as an infant.

Father Aracil entered the Salesians in 1948 and made his first profession in 1952. He moved to the U.S. in 1955, earning a B.A. in philosophy from Don Bosco College. He later earned another philosophy degree from the Salesian Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome in 1959 and was ordained a priest in Turin, Italy, on Feb. 11, 1963.

His early ministry included teaching Spanish and religion at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, N.Y., and U.S. history and health at Salesian Junior Seminary in Goshen, N.Y., where he also worked as a guidance counselor. In 1968, he moved to St. Dominic Savio High School in East Boston, Mass., as a campus minister, guidance counselor, and teacher. Father Aracil also served in Miami, where he was director of St. Kieran Parish and Immaculata-LaSalle High School.

He later returned to New Rochelle as province secretary and served on the provincial council. After a stroke in 2018, he moved to the Marian Shrine in Haverstraw, continuing to serve as a confessor and participate in province celebrations.

He is survived by his brother, Jorge Aracil Gosalbez of Madrid, and niece, Maria Emilia Ferrandiz of Alcoy, Spain.

Sister Rosalie McQuaide, CSJP

A Memorial Mass will be held for Sister Rosalie McQuaide, CSJP, a Sister of Saint Joseph of Peace, on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

Sister Rosalie died peacefully at St. Michael Villa on Tuesday, Dec. 10. She was 92.

She was born on Jan. 4, 1932, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to the late James Patrick McQuaide Jr. and Loretto Frances Armstrong. She was the second of three children.

Sister Rosalie entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton, Ohio, as a postulant in 1950 and made her final vows in 1956. In 1982, she transferred to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Sister Rosalie earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Dayton in 1968, a Master of Arts in Music Literature from American University in 1969, and a Ph.D. in Musicology from New York University in 1978.

Her career included teaching high school and music in various locations, including San Luis Rey, Calif.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Cincinnati, Ohio. She also served as an instructor at Englewood Cliffs College, a teacher at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Jersey City, N.J., a librarian at NYU, and an editor at Broude Brothers and RILM. Sister Rosalie worked as an archivist for LaGuardia University, Catholic Relief Services, and her Congregation.

In 1996, she completed Zen training and earned the title of Sensei in 1998. She co-founded the Clare Sangha Zen Community in Baltimore, Md., offering retreats, weekly meditations, and instruction.

In 2004, Sister Rosalie moved to Lakeland, Fla., where she worked on research for the Women At the Table Project, focusing on the Congregation’s Foundress, Margaret Anna Cusack. She also served in music ministry at a local parish until moving to St. Michael Villa in 2018.

She was predeceased by her brother, James Patrick III, sister, Mary Ann Schroeder, and niece, Margaret Ann “Meg” Schroeder. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Brother James F. Wiegand, SDB

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, Dec. 13, at the Marian Shrine Chapel in Haverstraw/Stony Point, N.Y., for Salesian Brother James F. Wiegand, who died on Dec. 8 in Valley Hospital in Paramus. He was 91. He spent 70 years as a professed Salesian brother and had belonged to the Don Bosco Prep community since 2002.

Born in 1933 in Freeport, Ill., Brother Wiegand had a younger sister, Martha. He studied at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., on a basketball scholarship from 1951 to 1952. His sister entered the Dominican order, inspiring him to become a religious brother. Martha suggested that he look at the Salesians because of his interest in teaching.

Brother Wiegand came to the Salesians at the former Don Bosco Tech in Paterson as an adult aspirant in 1953. He was admitted to St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Newton that same year, made his first religious profession at Newton in 1954, and made his perpetual profession in 1960. He earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities from Don Bosco College in Newton in 1957.

Brother Wiegand began teaching physical education and coaching basketball and baseball at Don Bosco Tech in Paterson in the early 1950s. He was transferred to Salesian High School in New Rochelle, N.Y., in 1961. There, Brother Wiegand taught physical education and coached basketball for 19 years while also in charge of the school’s summer day camp. He was elected many times to provincial chapters. He was a respected and successful coach. Brother Wiegand was elected to Salesian’s athletic hall of fame in 2008. The Salesian’s new gymnasium was named for him in 2010.

In 1980, Brother Wiegand was assigned to Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La., where he was athletic director and administrative assistant. He served on the Salesian Boys & Girls Club staff in East Boston from 2000 to 2002. That year, he moved to his last Salesian community, Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, where he helped coach basketball and tennis, was assistant athletic director, and moderated the cafeteria.

Brother Wiegand entered assisted living in Jan. 2020. He returned to Don Bosco Prep when he could.

He is survived by his sister, Dominican Sister Martha Wiegand, of Muskego, Wisc.

Sister Deborah Humphreys, SC

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister Deborah Humphreys, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, N.J. Sister Deborah died on Dec. 3 at Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare. She was 74.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, to William and Alice (Kissling) Humphreys, she entered the Sisters of Charity on Oct. 28, 1972, and devoted 52 years to the order.

Sister Deborah was known for her intellect and passion for social justice. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the College of Saint Elizabeth, a Master of Social Work in Social Policy from Rutgers University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College. She also held certifications in Family Therapy and Clinical Social Work.

Her ministry spanned a variety of impactful roles. As a young social worker, she founded El Club del Barrio in Newark, N.J., supporting underserved families. She also served as a Legislative Aide to Senator Wynona Lipman, where she contributed to social policies. Later, she became an instructor at the College of Saint Elizabeth, inspiring students with her wisdom and compassion.

Sister Deborah expanded her impact as Executive Director of Pueblo Nuevo in New York, where she addressed the needs of marginalized communities. She continued her work in Newark at St. Columba Family Life Center as both a social worker and Director of Family Life, providing vital support for families. She also worked with the Ironbound Community Corporation, serving immigrant communities, and later as a primary care social worker with the Dominican Sisters Family Health Services in the Bronx. Sister Deborah served the Sisters of Charity at the provincial and generalate levels for 17 years.

A published poet, Sister Deborah expressed her spirituality and love for humanity through her writing, celebrating the beauty of everyday life. She was a steadfast advocate for those in need and offered compassion and strength to many throughout her life.

Sister Deborah was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her brother, Denis Humphreys (Doris); sister, Susan Humphreys; niece, Emily Humphreys; and the Sisters of Charity community.