Sister Renata Amenta, MPF, 92, who served in the high schools of St. Joseph, Hammonton, and Paul VI, Haddon Township for a total of 44 years, died Friday, Dec. 24, at St. Francis Hospital in Trenton.
Born in Sestri Pomente Genoa, Italy, Sister Renata entered the Religious Teachers Filippini on July 5, 1931. She received the habit in 1935, and made her religious profession on July 3, 1938. In 2010, she celebrated 75 years of religious life. Sister Renata held master’s degrees from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and Villanova University in Villanova. She also held a Certificate in Library Science from Villanova.
Sister Renata worked in Middletown, Conn., Watertown, N.Y., and for one year in Alresford, Hants, England, before serving in the Camden Diocese at St. Joseph (1959-66; 1974-77) and Paul VI (1966-74; 1978-96).
She also ministered as librarian for two years at Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown, N.J., and for 11 years at Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing.
For over 30 years, Sister Renata served as parish musician in several parishes, taught choir, and gave voice and piano lessons.
She was a simultaneous translator for the Religious Teachers Fillipini General Chapter of Elections and Affairs in Rome, Italy from 1969-2001. She was also one of the simultaneous translators for the Trinitarian Fathers at their General Chapter in Baltimore. She ministered as an Affiliate Teacher of the Italian Language on the staff of Assumption College in Mendham, N.Y.
She is survived by her sister, Elvira Festa of Warminster, Pa., and nieces and a nephew. She was predeceased by her parents, Salvatore and Eugenia Rotondo, and a brother, Joseph Amenta.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 30 in the St. Lucy Chapel at Villa Walsh, Morristown. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for the St. Joseph Hall Infirmary, c/o Sister Betty Jean Takacs, MPF, Provincial Superior, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960-4928.