Sister Alice T. Boyle

Sister Alice Boyle died on July 4, 2026, and was buried at Saint Joseph Villa on July 20, 2026.

With Sister James Anita as her sponsor, Alice entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph on September 12, 1955. Only weeks later, Mother Marie Estelle delivered the devastating news that her father had suddenly died of a heart attack. “My world collapsed. He had just written to say he would be there to visit me on visiting day.” Alice kept that note for years. Yet through that deep grief, Alice found profound comfort in prayer: “The moments I loved best were the assigned hour before the Blessed Sacrament. I talked to Jesus; he talked to me.”

Alice’s life on a mission was a beautiful tapestry of community and ministry. She absolutely loved teaching! She poured her heart and soul into her first and third graders in her early years of teaching. Later, teaching high school at Kennedy-Kendrick, Queen of Peace, North Arlington and her beloved alma mater, Holy Family Academy, Bayonne, Alice became known as a legendary English teacher.

Online tributes from her former students attest to the extraordinary educator Alice was: tough but tender, extremely challenging, an incredible educator, role model, and spiritual leader…a woman who made us Holy Family Academy alumnae the strongest writers and who always showed up for “her girls” in both times of celebration and sorrow.

Our Constitutions remind us that: We prepare ourselves to accept the limitations and suffering of age and infirmity so that these situations of dependence may bring us to the fullness of our consecration as apostolic women religious. Alice lived these words of our Constitutions with radiant grace since she arrived at Saint Joseph Villa in 2018. She never complained, always expressing deep gratitude for the Villa and the care she received. She was especially thankful for her electric wheelchair, giving her mobility. Truth be told, she commanded that wheelchair with Olympian skill, avoiding bumping into people or objects as she navigated the Villa space.

Three days before Alice died, she was on oxygen and reading a book about the
Irish/English war. Surrounding her room were many family portraits as she lay in bed. This Communion of Boyle Family Saints were literally keeping vigil with Alice, surrounding her with love and warmth as she made her final journey home to the God she loved so dearly.

Alice, we celebrate your beautiful life, and we thank you for the gift you have been to the Boyle Family and to our Congregation for 71 years. Remembering the words of the Offertory hymn, “All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.” Rest in God’s loving peace, dear Alice!