A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Jan. 24 at 11 a.m. at Assisi House, the retirement home of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in Aston, Pa., for Sister Marie Cimino (formerly Sister Gerard). She died on Jan. 18. She was 93.
Born in Brooklyn, Sister Cimino entered the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood. This congregation later merged with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. She professed her first vows in 1951. She was a professed member of the congregation for 74 years.
Sister Cimino ministered primarily in education and parish ministry, including 56 years in the Diocese of Paterson.
Sister Cimino began her ministry in the Paterson Diocese in education. She taught at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Passaic, St. Catherine of Bologna School in Ringwood, and St. Francis School in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque.
For 40 years, Sister Cimino taught and later served as a teacher’s aide, parish minister, and volunteer at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in the Hewitt neighborhood of West Milford. For her work at the school and parish, she received the Vivere Christus Est Award. She then spent a year caring for her congregation’s elder sisters at Mount St. Joseph Convent in Ringwood.
During her eight years in the Brooklyn Diocese, Sister Cimino taught at Holy Family School. She spent another six years in the Newark Archdiocese, teaching at St. Ann School in Hoboken. In 2023, she moved to Assisi House, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.
Sister Cimino is survived by her many nieces and nephews and her Franciscan family.
A Christian wake service will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 24 at Assisi House before the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial. All services will be live-streamed.
Please donate in Sister Cimino’s name to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, Pa. 19014.
