Sister’s sense of humor, generous heart, and love of community life are memories for those with whom she lived.
Sister Rosemarie Bittermann (Sister Marie Anthony) was born August 4, 1922, in Saugerties, New York, one of six daughters and one son of Anthony and Catherine Mundus Bittermann. She attended Saint Mary of the Snow Elementary School and Saugerties High School. After graduation, Rosemarie went to New York State College of Teachers in Albany, later SUNY Albany, for one year before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York September 6, 1941. Sister earned a BS in Spanish from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MA in Education from Manhattan College. She later received NYS teaching certification for N – Grade 6 and Spanish Grades 7 – 9.
Sister Rosemarie spent close to sixty years in the schools of the Archdiocese of New York, with all but one year in elementary education. She taught at the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx; Holy Cross Academy, Manhattan; Seton Academy, Yonkers; and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale. In 1954 she was missioned to Saint Mary of the Snow, Saugerties, her alma mater, where she taught for six years. Sister Rosemarie then returned to Manhattan to teach at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Francis Xavier. In 1968, Sister returned to the Bronx to serve at Saint Barnabas and Nativity of Our Blessed Lady. From there Sister Rosemarie went to Saint Joseph School, Florida, N.Y., where she taught for the next thirteen years. In 1994, Sister volunteered at Saint Peter, Yonkers, for the next eight years, providing various services for the children and school administration. In 2007, Sister retired to Saint Patrick Villa, Nanuet, but with declining health, she joined the sisters at Convent of Mary the Queen in Yonkers. In 2014, she was among the first group of sisters to form a retirement community at what is known today as Kittay Senior Apartments in the Bronx. It is here that she died Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019.
Always kind and compassionate, Sister Rosemarie will be remembered by the many students she taught, as well as their parents and families. Sister’s sense of humor, generous heart, and love of community life are memories for those with whom she lived. She will also be remembered for her hobbies of solving jigsaw puzzles and crocheting afghans.
Sister Rosemarie was a dedicated Sister of Charity who served God with humility, simplicity and charity. We rejoice with her now as she is welcomed into the loving arms of our God whom she served so long and so well. Rest in eternal peace, Sister Rosemarie.
Date of Death
March 6, 2019
Age
96
Wake
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
6301 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY 10471
718.601.5370
Monday, March 11, 2019
2:00 – 6:30 pm
Prayer Service: 4:30 pm
Mass of Christian Burial
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
10:00 am
Burial
Cremains to be buried in St. Agatha Cemetery, Nanuet, NY
Missions
Archdiocese of New York
- Academy of Mt. St. Vincent, Bronx
1941–42, Teacher - Holy Cross Academy, Manhattan
1943–44, Teacher - Seton Academy, Yonkers
1944–45, Teacher - Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scarsdale
1945–54, Teacher - St. Mary of the Snow, Saugerties
1954–60, Teacher - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Manhattan
1960–62, Teacher - St. Francis Xavier, Manhattan
1962–68, Teacher - St. Barnabas Elementary, Bronx
1968–71, Reading Consultant, Assistant Principal - Nativity of our Blessed Lady, Bronx
1971–81, Teacher, Admin. Assistant - St. Joseph, Florida, NY
1981–92, Teacher
1992–94, Teacher, PT - St. Peter, Yonkers
1994–96, Various services
1996–02, Tuition Secretary - St. Peter Convent, Yonkers
2002–07, Various services
I remember Sister Anthony at Holy Cross Academy. She was a lovely, kind and loving person, always willing to be of assistance to those in need. I have thought of her often over the years, since, with happy memories. She was truly a Sister of Charity to her fingertips.
May she rest in peace and joy, in the arms of Jesus, her Spouse.
God Bless you Aunt Rosemarie, RIP.
Love Carla