Sr. Jeanne Adrienne Kierce, OP, a member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell for 74 years died peacefully at St. Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center in Caldwell, on September 11, 2020 at the age of 91.
Sister’s burial is private. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Convent Chapel, 7 Ryerson Ave. (Mount Saint Dominic) Caldwell at a later date.
Condolences may be left at www.proutfuneralhome.com.
Sr. Jeanne Adrienne possessed a deep faith, kindness and an ability to bring happiness and peace to those around her that she learned from her parents, Peter and Isabelle (Gordon) Kierce. Sister entered the Dominican Sisters on August 30, 1946, received the Dominican habit on May 1, 1947, made first profession on May 3, 1945 and final profession on May 3, 1954.
Sister earned a bachelor’s degree, majoring in French and minoring in Latin and English, from Caldwell University and a master’s degree in modern languages from Catholic University. She earned certification in gerontology from the College of St. Elizabeth and pursued further studies in educational administration from Montclair State University.
Sister was a devoted teacher at St. Francis Xavier in Newark, St. John’s in Clark, Lacordaire Academy in Upper Montclair and St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City. She also served as assistant principal and principal of Mount St. Dominic Academy in Caldwell and principal of the Link Community School in Newark.
Sister was the Social Services Director at Marian Manor, council member for the Sisters of St. Dominic Leadership Team, superior for Saint Catherine of Siena Convent and Health Care Center and, in retirement, the librarian and aftercare supervisor for Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona and receptionist at Marian Manor in Caldwell.
Sister served as chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Mount St. Dominic Academy and as a board member for both Lacordaire Academy and Caldwell University.
In 1997 Sister Jeanne Adrienne received the distinguished Mount St. Dominic Academy Hall of Fame Award.
Sister was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Isabelle; her sisters, Judith Moran, Isabelle Swarts and Mary Rose Hogan; and niece, Susan Swarts.
She is survived by her nephews, Dan Swarts and Peter (Julia) Swarts; nieces, Jane (Jack) Burns, Jeanne (Paul) Kiley and Nora Hogan; 15 grandnieces and grandnephews; 24 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews; and her loving Sisters of St. Dominic.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Sisters of St. Dominic, One Ryerson Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006 would be appreciated.
RIP I had Sister Jeanne as my teacher at SFX.