Sister Rita considered it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve children and families in need…
Sister Rita Meaney (Sister Maureen Catherine) was born in Bronx, NY, on October 7, 1924, one of three daughters and three sons of Patrick and Katherine Keating Meaney. Rita attended Saint Augustine School, Bronx, and Cathedral High School before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1944. Sister Catherine received her BS in Business Administration from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MSW in Social Work from Fordham University. She later earned permanent NYS certification in Nursing Home Administration and Social Work.
Sister Rita began her ministry as an elementary teacher at Saint Joseph Academy and Saint John the Evangelist, both in Manhattan. In 1951 she began her life-long association with the field of child care when she went to Saint Agatha Home in Nanuet. Over her fifteen years there she filled many roles. In 1966 she was assigned to Saint Joseph Hall in Brooklyn. For the next thirty years, as Administrator, and through its transition to Saint Joseph Services for Children and Families, Sister Rita provided the leadership and programs needed as methods and philosophy of child care changed throughout the country. To this time of risk and radical change, she brought the same care, dedication and sense of service she brought to all her work. Sister Rita considered it a privilege to have the opportunity to serve children and families in need, and a source of pride to do it as a member of a Congregation committed to this service since its foundation. After leaving Saint Joseph Services, Sister Rita volunteered in the adoption department of the New York Foundling for several years.
Sister Rita dedicated sixty-three years of ministry to child care and child services and to families who loved and supported children in need. We rejoice with her now as she enters into the joy of her God and is greeted by those loving words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Be at peace, Sister Rita.
Date of Death
October 20, 2017
Age
93
Wake
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471
718.601.5370
Sunday, October 22, 2–6:30 pm
Prayer Vigil at 4:30 pm
Mass of Christian Burial
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
Mount Saint Vincent
6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471
Monday, October 23, 11 am
Burial
Saint Raymond Cemetery
Bronx, NY
Missions
Archdiocese of New York
- St. Joseph Academy, Manhattan
1946–47, Teacher, Gr. 3 - St. John the Evangelist, Manhattan
1947–51, Teacher, Gr. 4 - St. Agatha Home, Nanuet
1951–62, Child Care Worker
1964–66, Dir. of Group Living, Asst. Adm. - NY Foundling, Manhattan
1996–2012, Vol./Adoption Dept.
Diocese of Brooklyn
- St. Joseph Hall, Brooklyn
1966–85, Administrator - St. Joseph Services for Children and Families
1985–95, Executive Director
I was a Home Kid at St. Agatha’s in Nanuet from 1947 through 1953. I do not remember Sister Meaney however, I send my deepest sympathy and condolences to her family. May she rest in peace.
May the angels welcome you home, Sister Rita.
I don’t remember Sr. Rita Meaney but I was one of those children of St. Joseph’s Hall from about 1967 – 1970 and I have fond memories…
She was a wonderful kind lady. A true Christian. She always endeavored to see the positive in all people. I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone.
I know Heaven is rejoicing to have her home!
I must agree with you 100%, she was one of the best nuns at St Joseph’s. I lived with Sr Rita at a Group Home on Linden Blvd, She will be truly missed. May God Rest her Soul.
I remember Sister Rita. She is at peace and with the Lord. I was at St. Joseph’s Hall around 1966 til it closed.
She was my group mother when I went to St. Agatha’s as a child. May she Rest In Peace
I was at St. Joseph’s Hall from 1956 through 1967. I remember Sister Rita Meaney, and unlike her name, she was very nice. 🙂 RIP
For many years, Sr. Rita and I were Executive Directors for St. Joseph’s Children Services and St. John’s Residence for Boys, respectively. She was joy to work with and a wonderful blessing to all she served so well. To her final days, she evidenced a spirit of faith and courage, hall marks of her life as a Sister of Charity
L
May the Good Lord greet you at his heavenly gates and wrap his arms around you, and thank you for all the good works for the children in your life time
God Bless You, Sister Rita. I volunteered for one year as an MVSC Volunteer at St. Joseph’s Children’s Services in Brooklyn Hts, under the stellar direction of Sister Rita in the late 1980’s. It was one of my most memorable years and one that served as a trajectory –to a lifelong preferential approach to the serving the poor. As I’ve not followed the SC’s since moving back to Ohio in 1989, I believe it is with Sister Rita’s strong “Irish will” that inspired me to wander around the web today until I found this announcement today (10/22/17 3:33 pm). Thank You Sister, you will always be in my prayers. Please keep me in yours. +
I remember her well she helped me through a lot of hard times..I Loved her dearly. …Rest In Peace Sister, Mother and Friend
I knew Rita Meaney as Sister Maureen Catherine. She was my group mother through High School. I graduated from Nanuet High 1962
I was at St. Agatha’s from kindergarten on. I had several nuns that influence my life and love them dearly. She was definitely one of them along with Sr. Joanne Ward. We have kept in touch all these years. I made collage cards to send her that would say Happy Birthday Sr. Rita AKA Sr. Maureen Catherine it took me years to stop that.
I have friends who had hard upbringings and tell me I was lucky. I know that big time.
Sr. Rita was funny, kind, and forgiving of teenage behavior. The perfect person to help me get focused on life and it’s possibilities. She will be in my heart forever.
Cathy we lived in the high school apartment in 1971 in St Joseph. and worked together in 1974 in Brooklyn. Remember the five mile walk home every night after work.
Does anyone remember Father Casey?
I remember how Father Casey came to St Joseph’s. Woukd like to contact him
May Sister soul Rest In Peace
Brother Thomas Trager,
Were you the brother that visited St Joseph Hall in Brooklyn?