Sister Aloysia Marie Praetz was called to her eternal joy on Sunday, July 20, 2003. She was 94 years of age and spent 72 years as a Sister of St. Dominic of Amityville. 

Aloysia Anna was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 3, 1909. He parents were Joseph and Susan Praetz. She was admitted as a postulate to the Amityville Dominicans on February 1, 1931 from her home parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Brooklyn. On August 18, 1931 she received the holy habit and the religious name Sister Aloysia Marie. One year later, on August 18, 1932, Sister pronounced her religious vows.

Sister’s ministry as educator began in St. Joseph, Astoria, 1932-1934. She then moved to All Saints, Brooklyn, 1934-1937 and St. Aloysius, Brooklyn, 1937-1938. Sister taught business subjects in Dominican Commercial High School from 1938-1947. She was teacher and principal of Queen of the Rosary Academy, Amityville, 1947-1968. From 1968-2000 Sister lived in St. Agnes Convent, Rockville Centre. During that time she taught in St. Agnes High School when it was in Rockville Centre, 1968-1984; she then taught in St. Agnes when the high school moved to Uniondale, 1984-1988; when the building was renamed Kellenberg Memorial she continued on the clerical staff. In 2000 Sister moved to St. Ignatius Convent, Hicksville and commuted to Kellenberg. Poor health necessitated a move to Carlin Hall, Amityville, in 2001.

A former faculty member of Queen of the Rosary Academy remembers: Sister Aloysia Marie came to QRA in 1947 to teach business subjects. She served as principal of the Academy from 1952-1968. This was the time period that saw the unprecedented growth of the suburban towns on Long Island and the concurrent population explosion. Under Sister Aloysia Marie’s supervision, Queen of the Rosary Academy expanded from a small rural academy of 150 students to a thriving high school of over 700 girls. Dedication to the well being of her students was Sister’s outstanding characteristic. The spiritual dimension came first… The needs of individual students were of primary concern. Anyone experiencing personal problems would find her to be a kindly and sympathetic listener. If a family faced a financial crisis, the tuition would often be reduced or waived completely.

Her two sisters-Mrs. Bernadette Gargan of Madison, Wisconsin, and Sister Magdalene of Pittsford, New York, survives sister. Mass of Christian Burial took place on Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Albert’s Chapel, Amityville. Burial followed in the Sister’s Cemetery.