“There can hardly be a man, woman or child in our parish who has not been touched by her quiet, generous spirit.“
Sister Eileen Grubert (Sister Thomas Marian) was born on August 29, 1924 in East Elmhurst, NY, one of two daughters and three sons of Thomas and Esther Randall Grubert. Eileen attended P.S. 127 in Queens, Cathedral High School, Manhattan, Ladycliffe College, and then Hunter College. She entered the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1944, and received the religious name Sister Thomas Marian. Sister completed her BA in Latin from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and received her MS in Elementary Education from Hunter College. She later earned NYS Permanent Certification in Social Studies and Administrative Supervision.
Sister Eileen began her ministry in education teaching fifth grade at Resurrection School in Rye. She continued teaching grades five through eight at Saint Lawrence Academy, Manhattan; Saints Peter and Paul and Saint Gabriel Schools, Bronx, and Saint Gregory the Great School, Manhattan. In 1965, Sister Eileen was missioned to Sacred Heart School, Staten Island, as principal, a position she held for the next twenty-six years. When Sister Eileen was leaving Sacred Heart Parish in 1991 to become the Administrator of Saint Patrick Villa in Nanuet, a parish journal that was dedicated to her said, “There can hardly be a man, woman or child in our parish who has not been touched by her quiet, generous spirit. Recognizing the value of encouraging our children to develop their physical and social talents, she has been a steadfast advocate of the programs offered by the Youth Activities Council.” Sister Eileen was the Administrator at Saint Patrick Villa until 2000, and continued to live there until 2012. She then moved to the Convent of Mary the Queen, and in 2014 moved to the Kittay House in the Bronx.
As an educator, Sister Eileen was concerned, kind and compassionate. She enjoyed her work with both students and parents, and they found her a gentle person with a wonderful sense of humor. Her goodness carried over to all with whom she dealt, most especially to the sisters with whom she lived. She was truly a gift to all of the Sisters of Charity. We rejoice with Sister Eileen as she now comes face to face with our loving God and is reunited with her family, friends and all of the Sisters of Charity who have gone before her.
DATE OF DEATH
January 6, 2015
WAKE
Convent of Mary the Queen
35 Vark Street, Yonkers, NY 10701
Thursday, January 8, 2015, 2:30–8:00 pm
Prayer Service 6:30 pm
FUNERAL MASS
Convent of Mary the Queen
Friday, January 9, 2015, 11:00 am
BURIAL
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY
Ministries
Archdiocese of New York
- Sacred Heart, Staten Island
1965–1991, Principal - Resurrection, Rye
1945, Teacher, Gr. 5 - St. Gregory the Great, Harrison
1960–1965, Teacher, Gr. 8 - St. Lawrence Academy, Manhattan
1946–1946, Teacher, Gr. 5 - Ss. Peter and Paul, Bronx
1947–1953, Teacher, Gr. 6 - St. Gabriel, Bronx
1953–1960, Teacher, Gr. 6–8 - St. Patrick Villa
1991–2000, Administrator
Sr. Thomas was a great principal. Stern but loving and caring. May she rest in peace.
Sr. Thomas was a loving, kind leader, teacher, mentor, and light of Christ for so many of us children fortunate to be touched by her gentle soul. Our world was better for her having been with us! May she pray for our souls and rejoice in His eternal Love+
I was blessed to have Sister Thomas as a principal while attending Sacred Heart School. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. She was a blessing in so may ways! She made Sacred Heart the best school during her tenure. I graduated in 1980. In my opinion, that was the best year and class she lead. Her teachers were the best and graduated some of the greatest students from Staten Island. Her leadership was exemplary and I wish everyone was as lucky and bless as I!,
Sacred Heart has lost another leader and it is heartbreaking! God Bless you Father Jerome!! You are thought of as highly as Sister Thomas and Msgr Quinn. Please stay safe and healthy!!]
Ann Marie Dilluvio
I remember her fondly from my time at Sacred Heart School. May she rest in peace and God Bless her. John McCarthy Jr.
Jack this if Jeff Keating hope your doing well my friend. I always liked you at Sacred Heart. That was a nice post to a wonderful women.
I remember Sister Thomas very well, she was always kind and treated the students with passion even when you misbehaved which I did quite often. I remember her and the other teachers like it was yesterday and I left Sacred Heart a better person because of people like Sister Thomas. God Bless her!