Turning 100 years old today, Oct. 4, Salesian Sister Domenica Di Peri jokes that her biggest worry at her age is that she will quickly wear out her shoes — and the floors of the convent where she lives in Paterson, N.J.
That’s because Sister Domenica spends much of her busy days strolling the halls of the three-story convent with the aid of a walker, stopping to chat along the way with fellow Salesian Sisters in residence. In part, the Paterson-born centenarian credits her miraculous longevity to being active and social, as well as inheriting “good genes” from her family.
“I’m a people person. In community life, we Salesians work, pray, and live together,” said Sister Domenica, who is hard of hearing. She then listed her favorite parts of the day: breakfast, prayer in the chapel to Jesus through Mary for their sisters, priests, and vocations, an afternoon nap, and walks outside. “I feel bad that I am not able to cook, clean, or do laundry like I used to after I ‘retired,’ but I’m happy that everyone accepts me,” she said.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sister Domenica also loves to travel — whether it’s around the corner to Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, N.J., where she is a member of the first graduation class, or across the country to California. If someone asks her, “Sister, do you want to go to…?” she interrupts with “Yes!” even before she hears the destination. She also enjoys going out to dinner with her large extended family and friends.
By divine providence, Sister Domenica shares a 100th birthday today, Oct. 4, also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with Father Edward Davey, a retired priest of the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey. The two met for the first time on Sept. 26 during an interview with BeaconNJ.org at Merry Heart Senior Care Services in the Succasunna neighborhood of Roxbury Township, N.J., where Father Davey lives. On Sept. 25, from Trenton, N.J., where he was the homilist for the N.J. Mass for Life, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney sent the centenarians a video birthday message. [See related story about Father Davey.]
Sister Domenica still looks forward to enjoying her favorite foods, such as pasta and shrimp with rice, often accompanied by a glass of wine. She also attributes her long life to her family history. Her sister, Rosalie, also a Salesian Sister, died in 2024, three months after her 100th birthday, and her brother, John, died in 2021, three months before his 100th birthday.
The Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco of North Haledon helped sustain and nurture Sisters Domenica and Rosalie from their youth. Their mother died at age 35, leaving their father with five small children. Rosalie was 5, and Domenica was 3. Soon after, their youngest brother, Joe, died. Their father placed the two sisters in the former St. Michael’s Orphanage, now the site of Mary Help of Christians Academy, run by the Salesians.
“They showed us the joy of the Salesian Sisters and the sacrifice they made to always be with us. We were just so happy,” Sister Domenica told The Beacon previously.
Inspired by the Salesians, Sister Rosalie joined the community in 1945, and Sister Domenica followed in 1946. For the next 61 years, they taught and provided the young with an education as teachers and principals in schools all over the country. Sister Domenica taught in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Louisiana. She was the principal of two Paterson schools: St. Gerard Majella and the former Our Lady of Lourdes.
“Teaching was fun. The children brought life,” said Sister Domenica, who still keeps in contact with former students. “Being with the young has really touched my life.”
