November 11, 1942 — May 1, 2025
Sister Lisa Marie DiSabatino was born in Trenton, New Jersey on November 11, 1942, and given the name Patricia Ann. She was the second daughter of Anthony DiSabatino and Adela Posluszna.
Since Anthony was killed in service to his country during World War II, Patricia and her older sister, Cecilia, never got a chance to know their father. Adela later married Joseph Nowalinski when Patricia was seven. Both Cecilia and Patricia loved their new father. The family grew, welcoming two more children, David and Melissa.
The family was rooted in the Catholic faith and Polish traditions of Saint Hedwig’s Parish, Trenton, New Jersey. Patricia went to Saint Hedwig’s Elementary School where the influence of the Felician Sisters was present. She graduated on June 17, 1956, and then attended Cathedral High School from which she received a secondary diploma on June 12, 1960. After high school, Patricia spent the next two years being mentored as a teacher by the Felician Sisters at Saint Hedwig’s School. The late Sister Mary Joanita Ziemba was considered her first mentor.
Drawn by the beautiful example of the Felician Sisters, Patricia entered the congregation at the Immaculate Conception Convent in Lodi, New Jersey, on June 24, 1962. On August 11, 1963, she began her Canonical Year of Novitiate. At her investiture, she received the name Sister Mary Celestine. After the Second Vatican Council, she requested the religious name Sister Lisa Marie. On August 12, 1964, she made her first profession of vows, and six years later, her final vows on August 3, 1969.
Sister Lisa Marie received her BA degree in Elementary Education at Felician College (now University), Lodi, New Jersey, and an MA degree in Elementary Reading at Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut. Her ministry in education found Sister Lisa Marie teaching first, second, fourth, and fifth grades in schools staffed by Felician Sisters in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware from 1964 to 1978. In 1978 she became the Principal of St. Bridget’s Regional School in Glassboro, New Jersey. Here, she opened the first kindergarten class, organized a fully equipped state-of-the-art computer room, developed an art program and provided in-service programs for teachers to establish a Gifted and Talented Program, developed a once-a-week lunch program, organized an Extended Care program, and implemented physical education and music classes.
From 1996 to 1999 Sister Lisa Marie was principal of Nativity Catholic School in Burke, Virginia. She opened this school with a new faculty and full classes from kindergarten to the eighth grade. She formulated a teacher handbook as well as a parent/student handbook. She organized a parent-teacher organization and established creative fund-raising programs.
In 1999 she became the principal of Most Sacred Hear of Jesus elementary school. Here she again formulated teacher and parent/student handbooks. Also, she created a Crisis Management Program.
When Most Sacred Heart of Jesus School closed in 2014, Sister Lisa Marie became the pastoral associate for the parish and, in 2015, added the position of assistant director of religious education to her responsibilities. In 2019, she assumed the position of assistant director of faith formation, which she held until her death.
Sister Lisa Marie received many professional awards, including Outstanding Principal of the Year in 1995; Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for 19 years of Service in the Diocese of Camden, New Jersey; Outstanding Service from the Borough of Glassboro, 1996; New Jersey General Assembly for Outstanding Leadership and Commitment, 1996.
Often called upon to share her expertise in various organizations, Sister Lisa served as Secretary and President of the Elementary School Principals Association, Diocese of Camden, New Jersey 1978-1984. Despite a busy schedule as a professional educator, Sister Lisa Marie participated in the committees organized by the Felician Sisters, especially the task force for the elections and the government committee. Several times she was co-chairperson of the Community Bazaars and for many years was the local minister of various Felician convents.
Under Sister Lisa’s direction, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Convent and School supported the Felician Sisters in Kenya. The late Sister Mary Elvine Dymnicka, a Lodi missionary to Kenya, was most appreciative of Sister Lisa’s school and convent’s support.
When Sister Lisa Marie celebrated her golden jubilee in 2012, she wrote: “The greatest gift I have received is the gift of my vocation and the many experiences I have had over the years. One of the most significant memories of my life as a Felician Sister was the liturgy for the beatification of Blessed Mary Angela.”
In the early hours of May 1, 2025, after a brief but courageous battle with aggressive lymphoma cancer, Sister Lisa took comfort in knowing her sister Missy was by her side as she began her journey home. In the presence of Missy, her devoted colleagues from Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, and her Felician Sisters, Sister Lisa peacefully closed her eyes with a smile on her face as she was greeted by her Spouse and Lord, Jesus Christ. Sister Lisa was 82 years old and had spent 61 years of committed service to God as a Felician Sister.
In gratitude for the dedicated ministry of Sister Lisa Marie at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish for over 25 years, the parishioners came together to pay their final tribute to Sister through the celebration of the Eucharist on May 7, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Presider was the current pastor, the Rev. Jurek R. Zaslona. Guest clergy concelebrated.
After the memorial Mass in Wallington, Sister Lisa Marie’s body was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel in the Immaculate Conception Convent in Lodi. The Very Rev. Canon Felix Marciniak, retired pastor of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial. The homilist was the Rev. Steven D’Andrea, a former assistant at the Wallington parish. Interment followed in the Felician Sisters’ Cemetery in Lodi.
