of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Therese Dobry)
September 1, 1913 – September 23, 2005
Saint Joseph Province
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“You continue teaching me, my King, . . . in my patient bearing of the cross.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd.)
Born on September 1, 1913, in Sutersville, Pennsylvania, Theresa was one of eight children of Anthony and Petronella (Berder) Dobry. She was baptized at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Sutersville on October 26, 1913. She had three brothers: Zygmunt, John and Bruno; and six sisters: Clara Dobry, Helen Dobry, Sophie Dobry, Frances Yamanaco, Jane (the late Sister Jane Clare, CSFN) and Stella Getsy. When she was ten years old, Theresa and other siblings were brought to Holy Family Institute in Emsworth, Pennsylvania on July 5, 1922.
Theresa entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth from Holy Family Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 1, 1927. On August 4, 1929, she entered the novitiate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receiving the name “Mary Antonette.” She made her first profession of vows on August 18, 1931, and her final profession on August 15, 1937 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the time of her final profession she added the mystery “of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” to her religious name.
She completed her elementary and her high school studies through Mount Nazareth Academy. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Saint John College of Cleveland and her Master of Science in Education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Sister Antonette spent 56 years of her life as an educator. From 1931 to 1987 sister taught mainly grades two through four at Holy Family, Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Malachy School in the Pittsburgh diocese; Our Lady of Czestochowa School in Gallitzin, Pennsylvania; Saint Stanislaus and Our Lady of Czestechowa Schools in Cleveland and Our Lady of Czestechowa School in Newton Falls, Ohio; and Transfiguration, St. Barbara, St. Frances Cabrini and St. Aloysius Schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit; as well as St. Casimir School in Lansing, Michigan. In her later years, Sister Antonette continued in her ministry of education working part time as a reading instructor and teacher’s aide. She retired in 1987 and spent her final years at Holy Family Manor in Pittsburgh.
After many difficulties in her health condition throughout the years, on September 23, 2005, at Holy Family Manor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sister Antonette quietly went to the Lord. A wake service was held in the Holy Family Manor chapel in Pittsburgh on September 25, 2005.
With a gathering of family and her Sisters in community, Reverend David Moczulski, OFM, celebrated the funeral liturgy on September 26, 2005. In the 79th year of her religious life, Sister Antonette Dobry, age 92, was buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery on the provincialate grounds immediately after the service.
Eternal rest grant to her, 0 Lord!
Digitized by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN
School of Arts & Sciences
History Department
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-637-7700 x3279
srbrendan@holyfamily.edu
http://web3.holyfamily.edu/srbrendan
Last updated: February 2006