Aston, PA—Sister Mary Dominic Piscotta, OSF, 96, died in Assisi House on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Sister Dominic was born Palma Piscotta in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she was a member of Holy Rosary Parish and a graduate of William Dickinson High School. In 1951 she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, a congregation which later merged with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and professed her first vows in 1953. She had been a professed member of the congregation for 69 years. Sister Dominic earned a B.S. in early childhood education from Seton Hall University.  She ministered primarily in education and clerical work.

Sister Dominic ministered for 27 years in the Diocese of Paterson. She began her ministry there in education and served for five years at St. Catherine School in Ringwood and eight years at St. Francis School in Haskel. Ten of her years in the diocese were spent as a teacher and later principal at Mt. Carmel School in Passaic.  She also spent four years teaching at St. Rose of Lima School in East Hanover.

Sister Dominic spent 25 years in the Diocese of Newark, where she taught for one year at St. Ann School and ten years at Sts. Peter & Paul School, both in Hoboken.  She then spent 14 years at St. Aloysius School in Jersey City, first as a teacher and later as a clerical assistant and volunteer.

During her eight years in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Sister Dominic taught at St. Benedict School, Holy Family School, and St. Francis Paola School.

Additional ministry work included three years as a volunteer at St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey.  In ­­­­­2016 she moved to Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer and hospitality until her death.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Wednesday, November 9. Services will be livestreamed. Viewing at 9:30 A.M. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 A.M.  Burial will be on Thursday, November 10 in God’s Acre Cemetery in Ringwood, New Jersey.  Sister Dominic is survived by her brother, Anthony Piscotta; her brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Judy Piscotta; her nieces and nephews; and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

For a more personal write-up about Sister Dominic, click here.