Sister Gloria Hillman, OP (Sister Rita Joseph) of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, died on April 10, 2023. She was 88 years old.

The daughter of the late Joseph E. and Anna Mae (Jones) Hillman, she was born December 23, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York.

Sister Gloria entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, in September 1953. She made her First Profession in June 1955, and Final Profession in August 1958.

Sister Gloria earned her BS in Music Education from Nazareth College, Rochester, New York, an MM in Liturgy from Catholic University, Washington DC, and her MRE in Pastoral Ministry from Fairfield University, Connecticut.

Sister Gloria’s ministries included education and pastoral care. In New Jersey, she taught at Saint Anthony School in Paterson (1955-56), and Saint Joan of Arc School in Camden (1958-66). In Connecticut, she taught at Saint Brendan School in New Haven (1956-58) and at Immaculate High School in Danbury (1970-75). In North Carolina, she taught at Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh (1966-70). In New York, she was Coordinator of Religious Education at Holy Rosary Parish, Hawthorne (1975-81). Sister Gloria then moved to Florida where she was Minister of Religious Education at Saint Thomas More Parish in Sarasota (1981-91), Religious Education Teacher at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Boca Grande (1991-94), substitute teacher at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota (1992-94), Director at Manasota S.O.L.V.E. Inc. in Bradenton (1994-98), and Pastoral Associate at St. Thomas More Parish, Sarasota (1998-2001).

Sister ministered to the elderly in Sarasota from 2001 until she was no longer able.

Sister Gloria is survived by her Dominican Sisters of Hope, her sister Jo-Ann, and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Her funeral will take place on Saturday, April 22nd at 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church on Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota, Florida.