Obituary: Sister Genevieve Tresa, M.M.

From Dorsey Funeral Home

Sister Genevieve Tresa, M.M. died on May 11 th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, New York. She was 89 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 71 years.

Velia Elena was born in Rupert, Idaho on October 15 th , 1929 to Angela (Steneck) Zampedri and Joseph Zampedri; she had eight siblings. She is survived only by her brother Duane Zampedri.

In 1947, Velia graduated from Rupert High School in Rupert, Idaho. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Valley Park, MO (from St. Nicholas Parish in Rupert) on October 31 st , 1947. At her Reception ceremony, she received the religious name Sister Genevieve Tresa. Sister Genevieve made her First Profession of Vows on May 8 th , 1950, in Valley Park and her Final Profession of Vows in Bolivia on the same day in 1953.

She was then assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, New York after her First Profession of Vows, where she studied dietetics at New York State University for two years. In 1952, Sister Genevieve was assigned to Bolivia where she studied language for six months. After language study, she worked at the hospital in Riberalta as a dietician, she also taught in the grade school and high school in San Jose.

In 1961, Sister Genevieve Tresa returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, New York where she studied part-time at Maryknoll Teachers College and gave service working in various departments where help was needed: the kitchen, housekeeping, nursing home, portress, laundry and infirmary.

From 1974-1981, she joined the U.S. Mission Region and moved to Monrovia, California to the Maryknoll Sisters Retirement home; there she assisted the elderly Sisters. In 1982, Sister Genevieve returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, New York due to health needs, but still remained an active volunteer around the center. In 2006, she fully retired.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Genevieve Tresa on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Main Chapel at Maryknoll Sisters Center. A funeral Mass will follow on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center. Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Dorsey Funeral Home, Inc. in Ossining.