Sister Rosanne O’Rourke, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Newburgh, New York, died Nov. 13, in Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center, Caldwell, N.J. She was 100 years of age.
Sister Rosanne taught at Saint Mary School in Gloucester City early in her career and returned to the Diocese of Camden in 1973, working at Saint Lawrence Parish, Lindenwold, until her retirement.
Sister Rosanne entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh on Sept. 6, 1937, made her first profession June 18, 1939, and final profession Aug. 21, 1945. She began her educational ministry in Jersey City, N.J. (1939-43) and then worked at Saint Mary School in Gloucester (1943-59).
She was principal in Tuckahoe, N.Y., and then returned to teaching in New Rochelle and Larchmont, both in N.Y. She went to Saint Lawrence School in Lindenwold, where she taught 1973-90. She continued at Saint Lawrence School as librarian until 1997. She also taught religious education classes until 1993.
Sister Rosanne moved to the Dominican Sisters of Hope Center in Newburgh when she retired in 1997. In 2009 Sister moved to Meadowview at Wartburg in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. In 2016 she moved to Saint Catherine of Siena Convent in Caldwell, N.J.
Sister is survived by many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sister, Ann Cowley, and her brother, James O’Rourke.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel at the Dominican Center at Mt. Saint Mary College, Newburgh, N.Y., on Nov. 16. Burial was in the Dominican Sisters cemetery. Donations in Sister Rosanne’s memory can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope Development Office, 299 North Highland Ave., Ossining, NY 10562-2327.