Sister Madeline Tiberii (Rita Francis), 74, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died on January 13, 2015 in Mont Marie Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, Holyoke, Mass. Born in Worcester, Mass. she was the daughter of Frank and Ida Rita (Colognesi) Tiberii.
Sister Madeline entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield in 1958 from St. Joseph Parish, Charlton, Mass. She was graduated from Charlton High School. She earned an A.B. degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms, Chicopee, a M.Ed. from Framingham State University, a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education from Campion Renewal Center, Weston, and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Religious Development, Cambridge.
Teaching assignments for Sr. Madeline included both St. Joseph Grammar and High School in Pittsfield, St. Joseph Grammar School, North Adams, and Cathedral High School, Springfield. She was Principal of Sacred Heart School in Pittsfield. She served as Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish, Norwich Conn., and was Headmistress and teacher at the Kowak Catholic Girls’ Secondary School in Tanzania, East Africa. She was Program Director at Campion Renewal Center in Weston, served at House of Peace & Education, Inc. in Gardner, and was an associate at the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge. Most recently she was a spiritual director at Eastern Point Retreat House, Gloucester.
In addition to her sisters in community, she is survived by her brother Frank Tiberii of Charlton, Mass., her sisters Katherine Tiberii of North Smithfield, RI, and Carol Kiwak of Wells, ME and many nieces and nephews.