A mass of Christian burial was offered June 13 at Villa Walsh, Morristown, for Sister Catherine Santorsa, 84. She died June 9 at the St. Joseph Hall, Villa Walsh, Morristown. Born in Dunmore, Pa., Sister Catherine entered the Religious Teachers Filippini on October 11, 1942. She received the religious habit on June 18, 1944, and she made her religious profession on August 31, 1947. Sister Catherine was awarded a BS degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey in elementary education and an MA in General Elementary Education also from Seton Hall University.
Sister Catherine began her ministry in 1943 teaching grades Kindergarten through eighth grade in the following parishes: St. James, Trenton; Our Lady of Sorrows, Jersey City; St. Joachim, Trenton; St. Bartholomew, Scotch Plains; Holy Family, Nutley; St. Joseph, East Orange; Holy Spirit, Pequannock; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Orange and St. Anthony, Union City, New Jersey. She also ministered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Schenectady, New York, Holy Redeemer, Cleveland, Ohio and in Connecticut at St. Anthony, Bristol; St. Sebastian, Middletown; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Meriden, and St. Anthony, Hartford. Sister Catherine served as Director of Religious Education at Holy Spirit Parish, Pequannock, New Jersey.
From 1984 – 1999, Sister Catherine resided at St. Joseph Convent, East Orange while she was principal at St. Anthony School, Union City, New Jersey. From 1999-2005 she continued as principal at St. Anthony School residing at St. Rocco Convent, Union City, New Jersey. In 2005 Sister Catherine ministered as a clerk at the Hudson County Board of Education where she continued until she was hospitalized in March. Sister Catherine then came to St. Joseph Hall Infirmary, Morristown. Sister Catherine is survived by her brother Rocco Santorsa, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Rocco and Vita Grace Coviello, her sister Theresa and her brothers Vito, Leonard, Gerard, and Frank. Services arranged by the Doyle Funeral Home Inc., Morristown.