Sister Antoniette De Nardo, MPF, 86, Blue Anchor native and student and teacher in Hammonton, died Sept. 30 in Saint Joseph Hall Infirmary, Villa Walsh, Morristown, N.J.
From 2004 until last June, Sister Antoniette served at Saint Joseph School in Hammonton.
Born in Blue Anchor, Sister Antoniette was a graduate of both Saint Joseph elementary school and high school. After completing the 12th grade, she entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1951. Sister Antoniette received the habit in 1952 and made her religious profession in 1955.
She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Catholic Teachers College in Providence, R.I., and a master of education in history from the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
For more than 40 years, she taught at schools throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
After her time as classroom instructor, Sister Antoniette served as pastoral minister, offered part-time religious instruction and assisted the principal.
“Wherever she was assigned, Sister Antoniette was always present in the parish,” her order remembered when announcing her death. “She was very active in the Saint Vincent de Paul Society and leaves a legacy of making rosaries and promoting devotion to Our Lady.”
For many years Sister Antoniette would spend her summers volunteering in Saint Joseph Hall Infirmary, caring for the elderly sisters.
Sister Antoniette is pre-deceased by her six siblings and survived by many nieces and nephews.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Mass of Christian Burial was private. However, many joined the community virtually for the wake service and Liturgy via Zoom on Oct. 2. When possible, a public memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date in the Saint Lucy Chapel at Villa Walsh.
Donations may be made to the Saint Joseph Hall Infirmary, c/o Sr. Patricia Pompa, MPF, Provincial Superior, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960.