Sister Mary Rinaldi, FMA, died peacefully on November 30, 2025, at St. Joseph Provincial Center in Haledon, New Jersey, surrounded by her Sisters. She was a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians —also known as a Salesian Sister of St. John Bosco—for 61 years. Born on May 13, 1944, in Tampa, Florida, to Augustus and Nancy (Midili) Rinaldi, she was the third of seven children.
One of Sister Mary’s favorite sayings was that she was the third Sister Mary Rinaldi in her family. Her aunt and great-aunt, both named Mary, were Salesian Sisters. In a letter announcing his daughter’s birth, her father wrote to his sister, “I gave her your name, hoping that she will follow your example.” In time, she fulfilled that hope in every way.
Sister Mary was one of thirty Salesian consecrated religious in her extended family, including her grandfather’s uncle, Blessed Philip Rinaldi, SDB. She grew up in San Antonio, FL, a small citrus town north of Tampa, where her father often remarked, “I don’t want to raise my children in the streets of a big city.” There, she learned the value of hard work from both parents, especially her mother, who was widowed at forty-two with seven children ranging in age from four to sixteen.
Her early Catholic education was entrusted to the Benedictine Sisters, and after the sixth grade she transferred to the local public school. During these formative years she felt a clear call to religious life. Her desire to know, love, and serve God led her to seek entrance into the Salesian order while still in high school. She moved to New Jersey and graduated from Mary Help of Christians Academy in 1963.
Throughout her time as a Salesian Sister, Sister Mary served as a primary school teacher, director of Camp Auxilium, and founder of the Auxilium School for children ages three to five. Under her guidance, Camp Auxilium thrived for eighteen years, shaping the lives of generations of young people.
In 1989, Sister Mary was asked to open the Province’s first Development Office—a major transition from her years in education. Although the shift was challenging, she embraced the mission wholeheartedly. Over nearly forty years in development, she not only learned the mechanics of fundraising but also cultivated relationships that became cherished friendships. “I learned to raise money,” she later reflected, “but best of all, I learned to make many friends.”
Several influential mentors contributed to her conviction that development was ultimately a ministry of relationships. Mr. Joseph J. McAleer of Greenwich, Connecticut—introduced to her by her uncle, Fr. Peter Rinaldi—encouraged her to form a Partners Circle of dedicated supporters who would advise and sustain the Sisters’ mission. His vision gave rise to the Partners Circle National Board of Advisors, which grew to include eighteen members and hundreds of annual benefactors.
Another turning point came at a fundraising event for elderly Sisters, when Mr. Fortune Bosco of Tampa, Florida rose and declared, “Let’s adopt these Sisters! After all, we have more need for their prayers than they have for our money.” From his words, the beloved Adopt-A-Sister program was born. It gained national attention in 1999 when it was featured on ABC’s 20/20, a television newsmagazine, resulting in an outpouring of support. About the program, Sister Mary remarked, “I wanted to build a house of bricks, but we built a family.”
In 2002, when the science wing at Mary Help of Christians Academy was under construction, the dedication of volunteers—including a group led by Beverly Rohde—sparked in Sister Mary and Christina McAleer the inspiration for a lasting volunteer organization. This vision became The Dames of Mary Help, a dynamic group of women committed to maintaining the beauty of the Academy and advancing its mission to educate and empower young women, especially those most in need. They were the force behind the annual Autumn Gala for many years.
Sister Mary often said that her greatest success was walking with people of faith. She saw generosity expressed not only in resources but in trust, prayer, and shared mission. She visited people in times of sorrow and celebration, in mansions and in humble homes—always with the same conviction: everyone needs God’s blessing.
She credited her perseverance in religious life to the unwavering support of her family, the strength of her mother, and the love of her Salesian community. Deeply grateful for her vocation, she once reflected, “I have been very happy as a Salesian Sister. I have lived a good life. If God asked me to do it all over again, I would, without hesitation.”
A Funeral Mass was held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at St. Joseph Chapel in North Haledon, NJ. Hundreds of friends, family members, and Sisters were in attendance.
Sister Mary Rinaldi, FMA, leaves behind a legacy of faith, dedication, and joyful service. She is remembered with affection and gratitude by her family, her Salesian
Sisters, and the countless benefactors and friends whose lives she enriched through her ministry. To honor her memory, gifts can be made to the Sister Mary C. Rinaldi Endowment for Salesian Sisters.