March 8, 1934 – April 5, 2023 (age 89)
Newburgh, NY
Sister Patricia Lally, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Hope died April 5, 2023 at Care One, Wall, New Jersey. She was 89 years old.
The daughter of the late John J. and Kathleen (O’Connell) Lally, she was born March 8, 1934 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Sister Patricia entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, in September 1952, made her First Profession in June 1954, and Final Profession in August 1957. Sister earned her BA in English from Seton Hall University, her MA in English from Villanova University, and her MS in Pastoral Counseling from Iona College.
Sister Patricia Lally began her teaching ministry at Our Lady of Fatima School in Scarsdale, New York where she remained until 1966. Her next assignment brought her to Our Lady of Victory School in Mount Vernon. After a few months she was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, New York. Another need surfaced and she was sent to Immaculate High School in Danbury, Connecticut, where she remained until 1972 when she became vocation director and formation coordinator for the Congregation. She remained in this ministry until 1978. During this time, she was also on the staff at Cardinal Spellman Retreat House for Sisters’ Programs and Youth Retreats.
From 1979 to 1990, Sister served at the Archdiocesan Center for Spiritual Development as coordinator of programs and as associate director. In 1990 she felt called to parish ministry serving as pastoral associate at St. Philomena Parish in Livingston, New Jersey, until 1995 then at St. Barnabas Parish in Bayville, New Jersey, from 1996-2004.
Sister was also a certified spiritual director and was involved in that ministry from 1979 to 2004. She served on retreat teams for directed retreats in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. Upon retirement, Sister Patricia lived first at Asbury Towers then at Brandywine Senior Living prior to going to Care One in Wall, New Jersey.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday April 13, 2023 at the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary in the Dominican Center at Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY. A prayer service 11:15 a.m., will be followed by the Mass at 12:00 p.m. Burial will take place immediately following the Mass in the Dominican Sisters of Hope Cemetery on the grounds of Mount Saint Mary College.
Sister is survived by her Dominican Sisters of Hope Sister and by her sister, Joan Finnerty, her nephew, her niece and several cousins. She is predeceased by her parents and her sister Kathleen.
