Sister Mary Joseph of St. Dominic, O.P. (Marie Therese Fairbanks), 91, died Oct. 19 at the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace. Born on April 16, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey, Sister Mary Joseph was the daughter of Joseph and Lavinia Fairbanks.

She began her religious life in 1949 at the Monastery of Saint Dominic, just a few blocks away from her childhood home in Newark. She professed first vows in 1951 and solemn vows on Dec. 8, 1954. While in Newark, Sister served as prioress, novice directress, bursar, organist, and in many other capacities. After the Second Vatican Council, she assisted many Dominican monasteries by sharing her energy and intelligence in leadership positions in the Conference of Dominican Nuns of the United States. In 2004, she came to the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace in North Guilford where she continued her ministry of prayer, work, and community life.

Sister Mary Joseph cherished her brothers, Joseph and George, who predeceased her. She considered it a great blessing to have many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews to carry on the family traditions. Her welcoming smile, straightforwardness, and indefatigable faith will be deeply missed by her religious sisters and loved ones.

Visitation was held Oct. 21 at the monastery Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 22, followed by private interment in the Monastery cemetery. Memorial donations may be sent to the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, 11 Race Hill Road, North Guilford, Connecticut, 06437. Guilford Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.