Sister Mary Di Domenico, CSJ, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 22, 2020, at Wheeling Hospital. (Her death was not Covid-related.) Mary, born in Beech Bottom (Brooke County), was the daughter of Simon and Elsie (Petrella) Di Domenico.
She entered the Wheeling Congregation of St. Joseph in 1948. She was known as Sister Mary Esther, in religion, until after the Second Vatican Council when she resumed use of her baptismal name. She made her first profession of vows on March 19, 1951 and received her educational degrees from Duquesne University. When the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston opened its mission in Jalapa, Guatemala, she was a member of the first team assigned there by Bishop Joseph H. Hodges.
She remained in Jalapa as a missionary from 1966 until 1971 and considers her ministry there as one of her greatest experiences as a Sister of St. Joseph. Sister Mary firmly believes that her time in Guatemala has given her a greater appreciation of life.
Sister Mary (Mary Esther) Di Domenico has dedicated her life to ministry and teaching in West Virginia. Sister Mary ministered among the children at St. Vincent Home for Girls in Wheeling, while also teaching at St. Vincent Home School. In addition, she taught at St. John in Benwood, St. Agnes in Charleston, St.Joseph in Huntington, St. Thomas in Thomas (Tucker County), Sacred Heart in Williamson and Corpus Christi in Wheeling. In 1971, Sister Mary Di began her position as principal of Fairmont Catholic Grade School. From 1984-1990 she was principal at St. Francis School in Morgantown. She returned to Fairmont as principal from 1990-2010.
During her years in Fairmont, she also gave service as Director of Holy Cross Cemetery and as a Board Member at Fairmont General Hospital. Sister Mary retired in 2010 and moved to Mount St. Joseph in 2015.
Sr. Mary was a dedicated volunteer at Wheeling Hospital and was honored as “Rookie of the Year” at the 2017 Volunteer Dinner. She was honored for her +1,500 hours of volunteer service in 2018.
Mary stated “I am so appreciative of my 70+ years as a Sister of St. Joseph. They have been filled with many blessings and great relationships on many journeys. I have also been blessed with the support of the sisters in my community and my family. What more can I ask for?”
Sister Mary Di Domenico had such a deep and tender love of those she knew and served. She would want to put the safety and welfare of each one first. With the level of COVID cases rising in our County, funeral services will be celebrated privately.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Altmeyer Funeral Home.Wheeling Chapel, 1400 Eoff St., Wheeling.
