Dominican Sister of Peace Marie Joseph Porrello, OP, (Dominica) (93), a native of New Haven, Connecticut, died on June 21, 2101, at the Mohun Health Care Center in Columbus, OH.
The daughter of Rose Cardonita and Liborio Porello, Sr. Marie Joseph graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, our founded school in New Haven, and entered the Congregation in 1946. She made First Profession in 1948 and took her final vows in 1951.
Sr. Marie Joseph earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ohio Dominican University. She taught elementary school in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania for twenty-five years. She loved teaching little ones and preparing them for the Sacraments. She kept in contact with many of her students even into retirement.
Sister Marie Joseph left education to minister in Pastoral Care, visiting Columbus, OH- area nursing homes to share the sacraments and to, in her words, “prepare the very sick to meet our Lord Jesus.” She dedicated herself to this service for more than 30 years and was honored to award the Pastoral Service Award from Park Medical Center, now Ohio State University East. She also served at Carrington Health in Columbus, OH.
Sr. Marie Joseph put her gifts of joy and hospitality to work for the Congregation as a receptionist and as a member of the Hospitality Team at the Columbus Motherhouse. She also served as a volunteer with the Congregation’s Communication department.
Even after Sr. Marie Joseph retired from active service, she continued to minister to her Sisters, her family, and friends, and her many former students through calls, letters, and her prayer and presence.
She is preceded in death by her parents Rose Cardonita and Liborio Porello, her brothers, Peter, Sebastian, Dominick, Joseph, and Harold, and her sisters, Annette Anastasio and Ann Marie De Mars. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and many friends.
A private Memorial Service was held at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery by Egan Ryan Funeral Home.
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Memorial gifts in Sr. Marie Joseph’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or submitted securely at oppeace.org. To download and print a PDF copy of this memorial, please click here