A Mass of Christian Burial was held on June 26 in the Sister Mary Dominic Tweedus Chapel in the Newman Center of Caldwell University for Dominican Sister Mary Patricia Reid, who died on June 20 at St. Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center, Caldwell. She was 83. She was a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell for 65 years.
Born in Newark, Sister Reid entered the Sisters of St. Dominic in 1960, received the habit in 1961, made her first profession in 1962, and made her final profession in 1969. She graduated from Mount St. Dominic Academy in Caldwell. Sister Reid earned a bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in English, history and education from Caldwell University (formerly Caldwell College) and a master’s degree in art, ceramics with an art education minor from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. She pursued further study in art, philosophy and art therapy at Montclair State University.
Sister Reid began teaching in grades 4-8 at the former St. Mary School in Wharton, St. Theresa School in Kenilworth, and Lacordaire Academy in Montclair. She deepened her impact as an art educator at St. Matthew School in Ridgefield, St. Mary School in Rutherford, Marylawn of the Oranges, and the South Orange Public Schools, where she also worked as a substitute teacher.
Most recently, Sister Reid served at Aquinas Academy in Livingston as both a teacher and an assistant. For the last two years, she volunteered to offer respite to families attending the ESL program offered by the Sisters of St. Dominic at their motherhouse.
For 26 years, Sister Reid has been a member of the Dominican Institute for the Arts, a grassroots collaboration of sisters, friars, laity, and associates dedicated to preaching through the arts. Her skills included pottery, calligraphy, and illustration. She also served her Dominican community on the board, first as treasurer and later as secretary.
Sister Reid was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Margaret Reid; her sister, Kathleen Reid St. Clair; her brother, Donald Reid; and her sister-in-law, Mary Katherine Reid. She is survived by her sisters, Sister Margaret Reid, a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, and Susan (Joe) McGovern; her sister-in-law, Pat Reid; and her brothers, Robert Reid and Frank (Mary) Reid; her many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and her loving Sisters of St. Dominic.
Memorial donations in Sister Reid’s memory can be mailed to the Sisters of St. Dominic, One Ryerson Avenue, Caldwell, N.J. 07006.
