In her busy life, there was always time for family and friends, former students, colleagues, and, in these later years, nursing staff, aides, and other Cabrini residents.
Sister Catherine Smith (Sister Miriam Magdalen) was born January 3, 1919, in Manhattan, one of four daughters of James and Catherine Reilly Smith. Catherine attended Our Lady of Good Counsel School and Cathedral High School, both in Manhattan, and worked as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1937.
Sister Miriam Magdalen earned a BA in English from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx, and an MA in Home Economics from New York University. She received New York State Permanent Certification for Grades N–6.
Sister Catherine served in the ministry of education for thirty-six years on various levels. She taught grade one at Saint Paul, Home Economics at Bishop McDonnell High School, both in Brooklyn, and served as Principal of Blessed Sacrament High School, Manhattan. She became Director of Grace Institute, Manhattan, which provided further education for young women wishing to work outside the home; she continued to work with young adults at Elizabeth Seton College, Yonkers. Sister Catherine then devoted thirteen years to the Congregation’s ministry for its retired sisters as Director of Retirement and Assistant Administrator at Convent of Mary the Queen, Yonkers.
After fifty years of active full-time ministry, Sister Catherine volunteered for twenty-one years at Saint Joseph Medical Center, Yonkers, overseeing the Gift Shop and visiting patients. In 2016, she joined the retirement community of Sisters of Charity at Cabrini of Westchester, Dobbs Ferry, and lived there until her death on October 24, 2020, at 101 years of age.
Sister Catherine was a valued member of several committees where her gifts and experience served to further the Congregation’s mission. In her busy life, there was always time for family and friends, former students, colleagues, and, in these later years, nursing staff, aides, and other Cabrini residents. Among the treasures in her room in Cabrini was a picture of FDNY Chaplain, Father Mychal Judge, who died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Sister Catherine had taught him at Saint Paul School, Brooklyn.
All who knew Sister Catherine spoke of her spirit of joy, limitless generosity, and love and concern for others—qualities alive and well during her eighty-three years of commitment as a Sister of Charity.
We rejoice with Sister Catherine as she is welcomed home by our loving God, her family, friends and the Sisters of Charity who have gone before her. Rest in peace, Sister Catherine.
Date of Death
October 24, 2020
Age
101
Private Wake & Funeral
Burial
St. Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY
Missions
Diocese of Brooklyn
- St. Paul, Brooklyn
1939–1952, Teacher, Gr. 1 - Bishop McDonnell HS, Brooklyn
1952–1962, Teacher, Home Economics
Archdiocese of New York
- Blessed Sacrament, Manhattan
1962–1967, Principal - Grace Institute, Manhattan
1967–1972, Director - Sisters of Charity Center, Bronx
1972–1978, Director of Retirement - Elizabeth Seton College, Yonkers
1978–1981, Director, College Services - Convent of Mary the Queen, Yonkers
1981–1988, Assist. Administrator - Saint Joseph Medical Center, Yonkers
1989–2010, Volunteer Assistant
The School of Our Lady of Good Counsel has lost perhaps its oldest living graduate.
Sister Catherine graced our hallowed halls and left in 1932.
Father Raymond Maher, OLGC Class of 1961, saw her at a burial service and said she was quite spry even though the ground was soggy with rain.
Our cadre of nuns grows smaller every year and makes us realize how much they were appreciated.
Rest in Peace, Sweet Catherine
Philip Wilson, OLGC Class of 1954, a keeper of the flame
On Saturday, Sister Catherine traded in her Sr. for her well deserved St. I will miss her ever present smile as much as I will miss her discounted purchases at St. Joe’s gift shop.
May she rest in peace. I am also a graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel. as was my Mother and aunts and uncles on both side of my family. I have. a dear friend who also graduated OLGC and who was also born in 1919, so they may have been classmates but she has a bit of dementia so she may not remember her. God rest her soul. Prayers as she makes ehr way to her heavenly reward.
I did not know Sr Catherine, but I have read (here) of her devotion and dedication, and am humbled at her length of service to humanity. God rest you, Sister, and see you safely home. God bless all our nuns.
As an employee of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center I was honored to have known Sister Catherine . She was such a sweet woman and always had time for people . Many nice conversations in the Gift Shop— always asking about family —Rest In Peace dear Sister Catherine
I first met Sister Catherine in 1957 as a student at Bishop McDonnell High School in Brooklyn, NY. We remained friends until her death. She took my son, Christopher, under her wing when he was a student at Iona College and later when he entered St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. I am so happy that he will be celebrating her funeral Mass today.
It was a privilege to have her in my life. Her influence will be a part of my family for years to come.
Your son, Fr. Chris, celebrated a beautiful liturgy for our Sister Catherine. She was surely pleased, as we all were, too. Blessings to you and your family.
We just now learned of Sr Catherine’s passing. She was my father’s cousin. It gives us great solace to know that His beloved cousin was with him when he passed last week.
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful sentiment. Please accept our condolences for your loss. May the cousins be rejoicing in heaven!
What a wonderful life. Rest In Peace, Sister.