Sister Doloretta Maria died in Camilla Hall on August 8, 2024 in the 77th year of her religious life. Sister was born on November 1, 1929. Sister’s parents Edward Francis and Florence Ann (Monroe) Rooney raised their family of five in Ashland, PA.
Catherine Eileen Rooney attended St. Joseph Elementary (1935-1942) and St. Joseph High School (1943-1947). Later, while in Community, Sister earned her A.B. degree from Immaculata College and an M.A. from Glassboro State College in Elementary Teaching.
Catherine entered the Congregation on September 8, 1947, received her habit and her religious name, Sister Doloretta Maria, on March 29, 1948. Sister Doloretta pronounced her First Vows on April 9, 1950.
Beginning in April 1950 through the school year ending 1970, Sister Doloretta instructed children in St. Ann, Phoenixville; Holy Trinity, Morrisville; St. Agnes, West Chester; St. Francis de Sales, Philadelphia; St. Matthew, Philadelphia; and St. Joseph, Collingdale. During this time, Sister instructed children in grades 1, 3, 6, and 8.
In the fall of 1970 through the school year ending 1976, Sister Doloretta served as the IHM Elementary School Supervisor and resided at Holy Innocents Convent. From the fall of 1976 through the school year ending 1979, Sister served as the Principal of St. Lucy School for the Blind and resided at St. John the Baptist Convent.
In 1979, Sister was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia. Sister Doloretta resided in St. Thomas More Convent in Arlington, Virginia until the school year ending 1982. Next, Sister Doloretta served as Principal of St. Monica School in Philadelphia for one year, 1982-1983.
For the next ten years, Sister Doloretta taught seventh grade students at Immaculate Conception School in Somerville, NJ. from September 1983 through June 1993.
From this point forward Sister Doloretta served in a variety of capacities in a variety of schools. Sister tutored children in Math and offered Religious enrichment in Star of the Sea School in Virginia Beach; Sister was an Administrative Assistant in Epiphany School in Miami. Sister served as a staff member in Camilla Hall for a year.
When Sister went to St. Anselm School in Philadelphia, she was a lovely Receptionist, Office Aide, and maintained Attendance sheets. When in Coaldale, Sister was a very efficient and helpful General Assistant in St. Jerome Reg’l School.
In the fall of 1997, Sister Doloretta resided in St. Alice Convent and ministered in St. Lucy Day School. Sister worked with these children in the study of Language Arts for a year and then became an overall and valued assistant to these children and to the staff. Sister remained here until the school year ended in June 2003.
In the fall of 2003, Sister spent the next nine years at Incarnation School in Philadelphia where she diligently worked in the Primary Library and Learning Support Center until the school year ended in June 2012.
Sister earned the reputation as a highly respected teacher who reveled in her classroom teaching experiences. In whatever area of education Sister ministered, she ministered joyfully, wholeheartedly, and faithfully.
Sister Doloretta joined the Community of Camilla Hall in August 2012. Sister Doloretta generously served as a member of the Apostolate of Prayer and Assistance Team until going to heaven on August 8, 2024.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Doloretta is survived by her sister, Florence Smith (Robert) many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great grandnieces and great grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Edward Fracis Rooney and Florence Ann Monroe Rooney, her brothers Edward Rooney (Charlotte) and her sisters Rosemary Gough (Cyril) and Betty Batdorf.
Reverend John Burger, SSC, celebrated Sister Doloretta Maria’s Funeral Mass on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355