A Mass of Christian Burial was held on March 16 at St. Catherine Convent Chapel in Caldwell, N.J., for Sister Carmel Livolsi (Sister Carmel Dominic), who died at age 99 on March 7 at St. Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center in Caldwell. She had been a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell for 81 years.
As an educator, Sister Livolsi taught at many local Catholic schools, including the following in the Paterson Diocese in New Jersey: the former Sacred Heart School in Dover, N.J., and the former St. Peter the Apostle School in Parsippany, N.J., which now houses All Saints Academy.
Sister Livolsi was the sister of the late Father Sylvester Livolsi, priest of the Newark Archdiocese in New Jersey, who established the Sanctuary of Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Branchville, N.J., in the Paterson Diocese. Today, it’s known as the Sanctuary of Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit/Shrine of St. Justin.
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Born and raised in Caldwell, Sister Livolsi first learned about God’s love for her from her parents, Michael and Mary (Grasso). She entered the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1945, received the habit in 1946, made first profession in 1947, and made her final profession in 1953.
Sister Livolsi earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Caldwell University, formerly Caldwell College, and a master’s degree in religious studies from Providence College, R.I.
In her ministry teaching elementary and junior-high students, Sister Livolsi also taught at the former St. Catherine School in Elizabeth, N.J.; the former Ss. Peter and Paul School in Hoboken, N.J., now part of Hoboken Catholic Academy; the former St. Philomena School in Livingston, N.J.; the former St. Aedan School in Jersey City, N.J., and the former St. Paul School in Irvington, N.J., where she was also the parish religion coordinator.
For many years, Sister Livolsi served as coordinator for the Propagation of the Faith and as associate director of vocations for the Newark Archdiocese. She also worked with the formation team of the college seminarians at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. She also hosted a Scripture-based radio program on the university’s WSOU station.
For many years, Sister Livolsi cared for another brother, Sebastian, who lived in Marian Manor in Caldwell.
Sister Livolsi was predeceased by her parents and by her siblings, Sebastian, Father Sylvester, Rose Capozzoli, and Concetta Rizzio. She is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, friends, and her Sisters of St. Dominic.
Memorial donations may be made in Sister Livolsi’s name to the Sisters of St. Dominic, One Ryerson Ave., Caldwell, N.J. 07006.
