Sister Rita Margaret Chambers

Sister Rita Margaret Chambers, O.P., 94, died on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, at the St. Catherine Health Care Center in Caldwell, N.J. A Funeral Mass will be offered in St. Catherine of Siena Convent, 7 Ryerson Ave. (Mt. St. Dominic), Caldwell, on Monday, Nov. 4, at 10:30 a.m. Visiting is at the St. Catherine Convent, Caldwell, on Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. Born in Irvington, N.J., Sr. Rita Margaret entered the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell on Feb. 2, 1937, and professed vows on Aug. 18, 1938. Sister had a bachelor's in English and Latin from Caldwell College, a master's in English and philology from the Catholic University, a Ph.D. in English and comparative philology from St. John's University, and also studied literature at the University of Manchester, England and theology at Fordham University and at the Maryknoll School of Theology. From 1938 to 1946, Sister taught primary grades at St. Ann's School in Newark, N.J., and English, Latin, French and religion at Lacordaire Academy in Upper Montclair, N.J., and was the principal of the Lacordaire Lower School from 1946 to 1955. She taught English and Latin at Caldwell College from 1955 to 1969, and served as the vicaress general of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell from 1969 to 1975. While serving as vicaress, Sr. Rita Margaret was instrumental in the founding of Marian Manor, the senior citizen housing program in Caldwell. Sister also served as the chairperson of the advisory council of the Essex County Office on Aging, director of the Division for Services to Elderly of the Catholic Community Services, and as the N.J. Delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. She served Caldwell College as the chairman of the English Department from 1964 to 1969, as academic dean of the college from 1977 to 1982, alumni director from 1984 to 1989 (published the "History of Caldwell College") and in the College Archives Office from 1993 to 2004. Sr. Rita Margaret was the chairperson of the Marian Manor Board of Trustees and the author of "Marian Manor and its History." She is survived by her sister, Doris Donahue. Memorial donations to the Sisters of St. Dominic, One Ryerson Ave., Caldwell N.J. 07006 would be appreciated.