She considered herself blessed to be a Catholic educator of the young, especially in preparing them for the sacraments of First Penance and First Eucharist.
The Funeral Mass for Sr. Ellen Dunne was streamed from St. Margaret of Cortona Church on September 25. The recording will be available to view until October 25 at this link: https://venue.streamspot.com/217aa3db
Sister Ellen M. Dunne was born June 25, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York, one of three children, two daughters and one son, of Thomas and Rita Schweid Dunne. Ellen attended Saint Joseph Hill Academy, Staten Island, for both elementary and high school, and the College of Saint Rose in Albany for one year before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1966.
Sister Ellen received a BA in History from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MA in Education from Lehman College, both in the Bronx. She was later awarded permanent certification from New York State for teaching Nursery through Grade Six.
Sister Ellen’s ministry and main love for fifty years was the field of elementary education with a concentration in the primary grades, all in Bronx schools. Our Lady of Angels, her first assignment, knew her presence as a teacher of grade two for eleven years and of grade three for thirty-two years. She extended her presence beyond the school hours to care for children waiting for working parents. In 2013, she began teaching at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine until her present teaching appointment in 2015 at Saint Raymond. Here her experience with the learning patterns of primary grade children enabled her to provide for their individual needs.
From the time Sister Ellen entered the Sisters of Charity of New York at the beginning of the Second Vatican Council until the year of her death, 2020, the Church, the world, and every major institution and agency that affects our lives has undergone change, bringing change to us. In its midst, Sister Ellen provided steadiness in the lives of hundreds of young children who entered her classroom each day. She considered herself blessed to be a Catholic educator of the young, especially in preparing them for the sacraments of First Penance and First Eucharist.
Sister Ellen was quiet and reserved in manner and way of speaking. The friends she joined many years for a monthly Friday night game of cards also knew her quick, dry sense of humor that added to the community they enjoyed. Sister Ellen shared life with the Sisters of Charity for fifty-four years.
Sister Ellen was hospitalized for a short time during September 2020. She was later transferred to Cabrini of Westchester where she died September 22, 2020. The Book of Daniel reminds us that “… those who have instructed the many in virtue …will shine as brightly as stars for all eternity.”
Sister Ellen, a loving God welcomes you to share this eternal life with family, friends and Sisters of Charity who have gone before you. Rest in peace.
Date of Death
September 22, 2020
Age
73
Private Wake & Funeral
Burial
St. Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY
Missions
Archdiocese of New York
- Our Lady of Angels, Bronx
1970–81, Teacher, Gr. 2
1981–2013, Teacher, Gr. 3 - St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Bronx
2013–14, Teacher, Gr. 3 - St. Raymond, Bronx
2015–16, Education Services, Primary Grades
2016–20, Teacher, Gr. 2, Primary Grade Librarian
What a remarkable and blessed apostolate she carried on in The Bronx over so many decades. Though I did not know her personally, I did receive my own education in elementary school from the Sisters of Charity and count myself blessed as well to have had such wonderful teachers in the manner of Sr. Ellen. May the Lord receive her into His loving presence. RIP.
So very sorry to hear of Ellen’s passing. A wonderful person and a asset to the mission of the Sisters of Charity. Heaven has gained another angel.
I’m so sad to hear she passed away, she was my 3rd grade teacher in Our Lady Of Angels, thank you for being kind always. I’ll remember you forever
I feel so sad seeing all the wonderful old Sisters leaving us on this earth because they have given so much in love to so many. I console myself knowing their blessings to us all; all they have given in love to so many will be returned to them with the greatest loves of all. I think that was a lovely tribute to Sister Ellen M. Dunne, who I did not know, and especially the passage from Daniel. These Sisters changed the world for the better for so many of us. Thank you to all.
I played cards often with Ellen….loved her friendship and only have good thoughts
Prayers and love
There are no words except to say how sorry I am. Sister Ellen will be missed by all. She touched so many lives and made a difference. May she rest in peace. As Sister Ellen joins Sister Pat McGowan I can hear their battle cry for their beloved Yankees. Lets Go Yankees.
Rest in peace, Ellen Dunne. You made a significant contribution to the education of the students you taught, Having known you at Mount Saint Vincent, I remember a sensitive, fun-loving human being. Condolences to your family and friends.
I will miss you Sr. Ellen for what you have done for me in life. You helped me and my cousin when we needed it and you taught me how to read. I thank you for teaching us kids in the Bronx for all these years and may your soul Rest In Peace. I will tell my kids of how I learned to read thanks to you. I hope to see you again some day, Love Jayden Pestano
May Sr Ellen’s soul rest in peace. Let her soul and all souls of the faithfully departed rest in peace. Amen. Let perpetual light shine upon her. I knew Sr. Ellen from St. Raymond Elementary School where we worked together. Such a lovely person; so wonderful and caring. Funny and so motivated every day. We would be so happy when it was Friday. She would say, “Chris, TGIF!” Sr Ellen always was pleasant and friendly. A very spiritual lady who made sure all of us were prayed for. She will be missed. God bless you Sr. Ellen. I am glad our roads crossed and I got to know you. Sleep in peace. Pray for me, Sr. , as I pray for you. Say hello to my dad who passed away on May 6, 2020.
“Mr. D.”
Sister Ellen treated my cousin and I so well . I will remember her.
May she rest in peace. Forty three years in one school, that is amazing. God bless.
Rest In Peace Sr. Ellen. I went to Our Lady of Angels in the Bronx from from 1968-1976 when you were teaching the 2nd grade. I always remember you being so sweet to the kids. May you rest easy with the Angels.
Sr. Ellen was a gift to all who knew her.
She taught my two children and readied them for First Holy Communion.
We have been friends ever since. She was fun to be with and we enjoyed
many laughs when and where we saw each other, supermarket, bus or on
the subway coming home from Staten Island, when she opted for public transportation
rather than driving. I will miss her but I know she is in a better place.
It’s just a bit difficult to accept because it was so sudden along with Sr. Patricia,
who passed away from COVID in April 2020 and Sr Helen Scoltock in February 2019.
Being reminded of The Book of David gives me comfort to know she “will shine as brightly as stars for all eternity”. God love her.
GOD BLESS YOU
Dearest Sr. Ellen, So sad to receive the news of your passing today. Hope you are resting with the Angels and I hope you know how much you meant to so many at St. Raymond’s Elementary! I will miss your visits to my classroom and I will always remember when you would lead my class in prayer with your warm tone and compassion. Thank you for your patience at StoryTime with all the 3 year olds. They loved the visits to your library. RIP
Sister Ellen was everything you could hope for in a coworker and religious.
Quiet, helpful and always willing to go the extra yard.
I asked once for materials to help a 1st grader with reading. When I say she showed up with a pencil case, spelling cards, phonetic cards and more material than I asked for, I am not exaggerating. Suggested books and other materials regularly followed.
She was a very quiet and giving person who clearly loved children and their success.
Sister, thank you for all you have done.
God bless and Godspeed.
Patrick.
What a lovely spirit she was. She was dedicated to making sure she provided stellar education to those who wanted to excel and to those who had bits of a struggle. It was her life’s work to love us on through education! You will missed Sr. Ellen, sleep in peace!
I had the honor and privilege of being one of your students. Sister Ellen your dedication to our faith and your students shined remarkably bright. One of my fondest memories that I have of you was on my very first day of third grade when you smiled at me and said “there is nothing that you can not do”. I thank you for instilling that belief in myself at a very young age. You will be missed. My deepest and sincerest condolences for the family and may she sleep in heavenly peace.
Sr. Ellen was my first friend when I started working at St. Raymond’s . I enjoyed our daily walks and conversation.
She always had a smile and a witty comment.
You will be missed my friend .
Rest In Peace ..
Sr. Ellen was the sweetest person. Always so caring, compassionate, helpful and funny. She always had a smile on her face and a funny witty comment to share. Her soft sweet nature will truly be missed at St. Raymond’s. May you Rest In Heavenly Peace.
REST IN PEACE