Teacher, parish minister, artist was a Carondelet sister for 83 years
Sister Alice Roberta Benzing, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sister Alice Roberta Benzing, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet who served 43 years in Hawaii as a school teacher, parish minister and artist, died at the age of 101 in her community’s provincial house in Albany, New York. She was a religious sister for 83 years.
Dorothy Louise Benzing was born Jan. 29, 1921, in Oswego, New York, one of three daughters and three sons of Herbert and Alice Marsden Benzing.
She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet at 18 on Sept. 15, 1939, taking the religious name Alice Roberta. She made her final vows on Aug. 15, 1945.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s in education at the College of St. Rose in Albany.
Sister Alice Roberta taught in middle grades, junior high and high schools in the Syracuse and Albany dioceses for 28 years before accepting an assignment to Hawaii in 1968.
Sister Alice taught math and art at St. Anthony School in Kailua, St. Theresa School in Honolulu, and St. Joseph School, Waipahu, where she also served as director of athletics and vice-principal. She returned to St. Theresa in 1985 where for 27 years she served as RCIA coordinator and supervised the liturgy committee. Under her guidance, students of all levels developed skills as lectors, cantors and choir members.
Her artistic skills produced beautiful large banners for the liturgical seasons, which hung behind the altar. On the occasion of her golden jubilee, Sister Alice spoke of her joy of being among multicultural peoples, surrounded by the natural beauty of the islands.
She retired at the provincial house in 2012, continuing to be very active in her community. Sister Alice had said often that she wanted to live past 100; she nearly made it to 102.