Sister Clare Reese, CSJ, 94, died Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in the 77th year of her religious life. The daughter of Thomas and Lucy Allen Reese, Sister Clare entered the Congregation from St. Joseph Parish in New Kensington.
Sister Clare taught for 22 years in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh and Altoona-Johnstown, including at St. Bernadette in Monroeville (1959-61) and Mount Gallitzin Academy in Baden (1961-65). She served as a principal at St. Bernadette (1965-73) and at Blessed Sacrament in Natrona Heights (1974-77).
From 1979 to 1983, Sister Clare served as a social worker therapist in the impoverished, rural Appalachian hills of Kentucky. In letters to the Congregation, Sister Clare eloquently described the deep faith, economic hardship and dismal living conditions of the families she served. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1980, Sister Clare wrote: “My own desire is simply to share life and presence and service and somehow hope that the experience will lead to the unity, the oneness that we are rooted in as Christians and Sisters of St. Joseph.”
Shortly after returning to Baden in 1983, Sister Clare was elected to serve on the Congregation’s Council. She worked at Holy Family Institute (1988-1993), as a family service clinician in Homestead and as a supervisor in McKees Rocks.
Compassionate, unassuming and soft-spoken, Sister Clare then served as parish social minister at St. Veronica in Ambridge (1993-94) and at St. Bartholomew in Pittsburgh (1994-99).
In 1999, Sister Clare embraced what she called a “privileged and grace-filled ministry” as a social worker at Villa St. Joseph where she encountered nursing care residents who were nearing “the absolute fullness of God’s love.” Attentive to their social and spiritual needs, Sister Clare nurtured relationships with residents, focusing on their dignity, seeing past their limitations, and sharing interests such as history and reading.
After retiring from the Villa in 2009, Sister Clare continued to volunteer at the Villa where her presence and prayers were a source of comfort to residents and families.
Predeceased by a brother, Tom Reese, and two sisters, Molly Reese and Mary Pat Reese, Sister Clare is survived by nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, Associates, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden. The Sisters are grateful to the Supportive Living staff at the Motherhouse for their care of Sister Clare.
Services for Sister Clare
Friends will be received Monday, July 7, from 1 p.m. to the close of the Prayer Vigil, which begins at 6 p.m., and Tuesday, July 8, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Medaille Hall at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, July 8, at 4 p.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel. Get directions to the Motherhouse and Chapel.
Donations in the name of Sister Clare may be sent to the Sisters of St. Joseph Memorial Fund, Mission Advancement Office, 1020 W. State St., Baden, PA 15005. Make an online donation in memory of Sister Clare.