Aston, PA — Sister Cleomata Comiskey, OSF, died in Assisi House on March 10, just a few weeks short of her ninety-sixth birthday. The cause of death was end stage cardiovascular disease. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for seventy-seven years. Sister Cleomata (Winifred Elizabeth Comiskey) was born in Sligo, Ireland, and entered the congregation in 1927. She professed her first vows in 1930. Her ministry was primarily in elementary education, teaching in Maryland, Delaware, South Carolina, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Sister Cleomata began her many years of education ministry in the Diocese of Trenton where she taught at St. Rose of Lima School in Freehold (1929-1931) and later at Blessed Sacrament School in Trenton (1951-1953). From 1931-1938, she taught at St. James School in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Sister Cleomata ministered for thirty-eight years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She taught at Immaculate Conception School in Towson (1941-1947); St. Clement School in Rosedale (1953-1956); St. Peter Claver School (1959-1963); Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Middle River (1963-1967); St. Joseph School in Fullerton (1967-1970); St. Elizabeth School (1970-1971, 1979-1990); and St. Lawrence School in Catonsville (1973-1979).
Sister Cleomata also ministered for several years in the Diocese of Wilmington, teaching at St. Peter School in New Castle (1956-1958) and St. John the Beloved School (1958-1959). Addition teaching experience included St. Elizabeth School in Purcell, Oklahoma (1940-1941); St. Francis Home in Roxbury, Massachusetts (1947-1951); and St. Joseph School in Anderson, South Carolina (1971-1973). After her retirement she lived at St. Bernadette Convent in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she did volunteer work (1990-1999). In 1999 Sister Cleomata moved to Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on Wednesday, March 14. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Cleomata is survived by cousins and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
