Sister Colette Rhoney, OSF

Sister Colette Rhoney, OSF was born in Niagara Falls, NY June 22, 1931 and died March 6, 2023 at the Stella Niagara Health Center, Stella Niagara, New York. She was the daughter of the late D. Vincent and Gertrude [Braas] Rhoney. 

Sister Colette entered the Sisters of St. Francis September 4, 1949 and was professed August 18, 1952. She received her BS in Education from Rosary Hill College (now Daemen) in 1958 and an MED from Niagara University in 1970.

Sister Colette's ministries included Education, Spiritual Direction and the Assisi Retreat Experience in Italy.  She taught school in Buffalo, New York at St. Benedict, Buffalo (1952-55), St. Ann (1955-57), St. Lawrence (1965-67); in Columbus, Ohio at Holy Rosary (1957-60); in New Monmouth, NJ at St. Mary School (1967-70) and in Rome, Italy at St.Francis International School (1960-65).  She served as a Retreat Facilitator at the Stella Niagara Center of Renewal (1975-78); Associate Vicar for Religious for the Diocese of Buffalo (1980-88); Third Age Program Director for Holy Name Province (1988-91); was Spiritual Director at the Buffalo Diocesan Counseling Center (1991-96) and with the Sisters of St. Joseph, Hamburg (1996-2001).

Also, Sister Colette served as the Interprovincial Novitiate Team Director in Redwood City, CA (1970-71).  She became the Holy Name Province Novice Director from 1971-74 and remained in charge of formation until 1975.

Sister Colette then continued her ministry as Spiritual Director until 2017 when she moved to the Stella Niagara Health Center.

Besides her parents, Sister Colette was predeceased by brothers, James V. (Angeline) , Paul J. and Vincent (Carol) and Michael D. Rhoney.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Alice (William) Wonsiewski, her beloved sister-in-laws Cynthia Rhoney and Patricia Rhoney and many nieces and nephews, and her Sisters in the Stella Niagara Community.

Wake Friday, March 10 from 3-7PM with a prayer service at 7 PM at Stella Niagara Chapel, 4421 Lower River Road Stella Niagara, NY 14144. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Sister's Chapel Saturday, March 11 at 10AM.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, Stella Niagara, NY 14144.

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