Sister Ellen P. Casey

Sister Ellen P. Casey died at Saint Joseph Villa on June 28, 2023 and was buried on July 5, 2023.   Ellen’s father raised his five children since her mother died when Ellen was nine years old. With her extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins, Ellen learned to become a thoughtful, generous person. Mr. Casey was the strongest model for his daughter’s development. Her father’s bountiful personality manifested itself when Ellen became a Sister of Saint Joseph. Casey’s dry-cleaning business in Bayonne never accepted any money for the cleaning he did for the sisters missioned there or the convent drapes that needed attention. He continued in this generous strain by giving Ellen and her SSJ friends his new car for their New England vacation. When driving down Mt. Washington, the brakes started to smoke. Ellen and her friends began to storm heaven with their prayers and the petition was heard as the car survived unscathed.

During her many days at Hillsdale, Ellen knew everyone at daily Mass and visited them when they could no longer come to church. While in Teaneck, she became Eucharistic Minister and regularly took Holy Communion to the patients at Holy Name Hospital. When Ellen initially came to the Villa, she loved to visit those in need of encouragement or  to offer a listening ear.

In her teaching ministry at Ascension School, Ellen took care of the pretzel, milk , and mission money. One afternoon, after depositing the money in the bank, a man selling pretzels on the corner asked Ellen to take over for him so he could “take care of business.” Therefore, Ellen was left selling pretzels at corner of K&A.

Throughout her education ministry, Ellen loved teaching and spending time with children. This patient instructor would invite her friends’ nieces to the convent in order to play games or bake cookies. One child expressed this sentiment, “S. Ellen is a very patient person. No matter how stressful anything can be, she is always positive. She is a true modern Mary because she believes and trusts in God just the way Mary did.”

As her friends kissed her good night, they did not realize it was for the last, but what they did believe was that morning would be much better. Ellen’s tomorrow introduced her to Paradise. God bless you. Ellen. Rest in Peace