Funeral services will be held April 23 in St. Lucy Chapel, Villa Walsh, Morristown, for Filippini Sister Roseann Fernandez who died April 14 in Rio Rancho, N.M. She was 83.
A wake will be held starting at 2 p.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 4 p.m. Burial will be in Ave Maria Cemetery.
Born and raised in Newark, Sister Roseann entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1957. She received the habit in 1959 and made her religious profession in 1962. She earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from the College of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station.
In her 66 years of religious life Sister Roseann ministered in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs as well as a local convent superior.
In the Trenton Diocese she served in Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing, as a sixth grade teacher from 1978-1982, and as principal from 1982-1985. Also in the Diocese she was principal of St. Joachim School, Trenton, from 1988-1998 and principal of Holy Trinity School, Long Branch, from 1998-2006, and was local convent superior in the former St. Joachim Convent, Trenton, and the former Holy Trinity Convent, Long Branch. She was the recipient of the Catholic Educators Award.
Other places where she served included the (Arch) Dioceses of Camden, Albuquerque, Metuchen, Newark and Paterson.
Sister Roseann was predeceased by her parents and two brothers. She is survived by a niece, nephew and several cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to the Religious Teachers Filippini, c/o Sister Marianne McCann, M.P.F., Villa Walsh, 455 Western Ave., Morristown, N.J. 07960.