Sr. Augusta Conter, OP
Dominican Sisters of Amityville
On Thursday, August 7, 2026, the eve of the Feast of St. Dominic, our beloved Sister Augusta Conter (Sister Marie Francesca) was called home by our loving God whom she served for almost 76 years as a Sister of St. Dominic, Congregation of the Holy Cross, Amityville, New York.
Augusta was born in Livo, a little village in northern Italy, with her twin sister Pia on November 4, 1932 to August and Tullia Conter. Her father returned to the United States in 1933, leaving the family in Livo until he had earned enough money to provide for passage to the US. Then, in September 1936, the family embarked from Genoa and arrived in New York Harbor later that same month.
Augusta and Pia attended Annunciation Elementary School in Brooklyn, where they met the Dominican sisters. Upon graduation in 1946, Augusta went to the Dominican Juniorate High School in Watermill, and on September 8, 1950, entered the novitiate of Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse. On August 4, 1951, she received the Dominican habit as a novice and the religious name Sister Marie Francesca. She professed her first vows on August 6, 1952 and her final vows on August 6, 1955.
Her first assignment was at All Saints Elementary School in Brooklyn. In 1956, she was transferred to All Saints High School. Augusta received her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from St. John’s School of Commerce in 1961 and taught business subjects until 1968 when she was asked to be the Assistant Principal of the high school. In 1970, she received a Master of Social Sciences degree from Brooklyn College. In 1969, Augusta was transferred to Bishop McDonnell High School where she remained until its closing. In September 1973, Augusta obtained a position at The Rhodes School in New York City as a teacher and guidance counselor. She held the position until 1981. During those years, Augusta received certification in Pastoral Counseling from the Post Graduate Center for Mental Health in Manhattan. She used this training as volunteer counselor at Our Lady of Angels Human Services for four years. Augusta also received her certificate in Administration and Supervision from Brooklyn College in 1981.
In 1981, Augusta took the position of Assistant Principal at St. Edmund High School in Brooklyn remaining there until 1986. That same year she became Principal of St. Patrick Elementary School in Brooklyn until 1989 when the congregation asked her to serve as Principal of St. Bartholomew Elementary School in Elmhurst, Queens where she remained until 2001. From 2001 to 2007, she was a teacher/mentor and teacher at Cathedral High School for Girls in New York City. From 2007 to 2010, Augusta taught Spanish to students in St. Margaret School, Middle Village (grades 5-8) and Italian to students in St. Nicholas School in Brooklyn (grades 5- 8). She retired in 2011.
Augusta was gifted with a great sense of humor, seeing the bright side of life and causing others to do the same. She loved praying the Rosary and reciting the daily psalms. She was sustained by a deep devotion to our Lord in the Eucharist.
Augusta is survived by her twin sister, Pia Conter, OP.
Obituary was written by Sister Augusta Conter, OP.
