Sister Rose Patricia Reilly, O.P., formerly Eileen R. Reilly, a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic, Blauvelt, New York, for the past 72 years, died on October 14, 2014 in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Sister Rose Patricia was 91 years of age.
Sister Rose Patricia was born to Rose Farley Reilly and Patrick Reilly on March 5, 1923 in Bronx, New York. She entered the Sisters of St. Dominic on January 25, 1942 from St. Frances of Rome Parish in the Bronx N.Y. Sister received the Dominican habit on September 7, 1942, professed her first vows September 8, 1943, and her final vows on September 8, 1946.
Sister held the B.S. in Education from Manhattan College and the M.A. in Religious Education from Providence College. She did additional Post Graduate Study at Hunter College and Fordham University both in New York City. Sister Rose Patricia pursued studies in Alcoholism Education at South Oaks Hospital, Amityville, NY, West Virginia University, the University of Delaware, and Duke University, NC. Sister Rose’s many years of active ministry were devoted to education as a teacher and principal as well as counselor for alcohol and chemical dependency. She ministered in the following schools in the Archdiocese of New York: St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx, 1944-1950; St. Benedict’s, Bronx, 1950-1953; Immaculate Conception, Amenia, N.Y., 1953-1955; Our Saviour’s, Bronx, 1955-1964; St. Anselm’s, Bronx, 1964-1965, Principal of St. Margaret’s School, Pearl River, 1965-1969; Principal of both St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School, 1969-1975 and St. Nicholas of Tolentine Elementary School, 1979-1981. Sister served the Blauvelt Congregation as Director of Ministry, 1976 – 1979. From 1981 until 2011, Sister served as Associate Director of the Office of New Directions, a program designed to educate religious communities about alcohol, alcoholism and chemical dependency. In addition to her religious congregation Sr. Rose Patricia is survived by her foster sister Elizabeth, her sister-in law, Rosemary, a niece and several nephews. Sister was predeceased by her sister, Margaret and brother, William Reilly.