Sister Mary Paul Cretello, OP
Photo By Michael Alexander

ATLANTA—Sister Mary Paul Cretello, OP, died April 18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home in Atlanta after an extended illness. She was 84 years old.

She was born Anne M. Cretello on Jan. 25, 1933, in Long Branch, New Jersey, to Anthony Cretello and Antoinette (Cittandino) Cretello. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Lucina.

Sister Mary Paul is survived by her brother, Anthony Cretello; sister, Marie Applegate; devoted niece, Lorraine Hundertpfund; and other nieces and nephews.

She entered the Hawthorne Dominicans community on March 8, 1987, and made her profession of vows on Sept. 14, 1988. She worked as a medical assistant prior to the religious life.

Sister Mary Paul served at six of the nursing homes of the Hawthorne Dominicans. She worked at Holy Family Home in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1989-1991 and again from 1998-2004. She served in Sacred Heart Home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1991-1996, Our Lady of Good Counsel Home in St. Paul, Minnesota, from 1996-1998, Rosary Hill Home in Hawthorne, New York, from 1988-1989 and 2004-2007, and St. Rose’s Home in New York City from 2007-2009. She moved to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home in Atlanta in April 2009.

In 2013, Sister Mary Paul celebrated her silver jubilee.

She spent the last four years of consecrated life confined to her bed or chair. Sister Mary Paul was always happy to receive visitors and faithfully continued her prayers. She died surrounded by the sisters singing the Dominican Salve and Father Paul Burke, the home’s chaplain.

Father Burke celebrated the funeral Mass on April 21 in the home’s chapel. Interment followed at Westview Cemetery.