Sept. 10, 2014

Morristown, NJ – A Mass of Christian Burial for Filippini Sister Giacinta Basile, 93, was held Sept. 5 at Villa Walsh. She died Sept. 2 at Saint Joseph Hall, Villa Walsh, Burial was in Ave Maria Cemetery.

Born in Watertown, the daughter of the late Leo Basile and Mary Frances (Agnesina) Basile, Sister Giacinta entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1939.  She received the habit in 1940, and made her religious profession in 1943.

Sister Giacinta was awarded a bachelor’s degree with a major in French and a minor in English from Notre Dame College, Baltimore, Maryland.  She also took graduate courses in administration and guidance from Catholic University, Washington D.C., Johns Hopkins, Maryland, and Loyola University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sister Giacinta taught at Villa Walsh College and at high schools in Baltimore, Bristol, Connecticut and in Hammonton, New Jersey.   She was principal and vice principal at Paul VI Haddonfield, and principal at: St. Joseph in Hammonton; Villa Victoria Academy, Trenton, New Jersey; and Villa Walsh Academy Morristown, New Jersey.

Since 1998, Sister Giacinta has been involved in pastoral ministry in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, St. Joachim, Trenton, New Jersey, and her last 14 years were spent at St. Mary Mt. Virgin (Parish of the Visitation) New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

On July 27, Sister Giacinta was honored by the parishioners of St. Mary Mt. Virgin upon her retirement from the parish.

Sister Giacinta held many administrative positions in the Religious Teachers Filippini as a local superior in various sites, as Provincial Councillor (1984-1988; 2001-2007) and from 1969 has been an elected delegate to the Provincial and General Chapters of the Institute.

Sister Giacinta, together with Sr. Geraldine Calabrese (deceased), authored  Forever Yes, the story of the life of St. Lucy Filippini, Foundress of the Religious Teachers Filippini.  The book, published in 1978, will have its third reprint this year. 

Sister Giacinta  and Sister Geraldine also formed the Associates of Saint Lucy Filippini, a group of women committed to prayer and to the study of the life of St. Lucy in order to perpetuate St. Lucy’s spirit in today's world.  They were also given the responsibility to provide a program “Empowering the Mission” for teachers who teach in schools administered by the Filippini Sisters. Its purpose is to educate teachers on the philosophy and mission of Catholic schools in the spirit of Saint Lucy.    

Sister Giacinta retired and became a resident at St. Joseph Hall Infirmary, Villa Walsh, in July.

She is survived by her sisters Mary Navarra and Josephine Basile both of Syracuse, NY, and nieces and nephews. Her parents, sister, Sandy Priolo, and brothers Anthony, John, and Joseph Basile died previously

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Giacinta will be accepted to the St. Joseph Hall Infirmary, c/o Sister Ascenza Tizzano, MPF, Provincial Superior, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960-4928.