TRUSTEES
Sr. Veronica Mendez, RCD
Sr. Veronica Mendez, RCD has been on the Board since it was only an Advisory Committee. She has been a Sister of O.L. of Christian Doctrine for 62 years. Sister has ministered in New York, South Carolina and Florida. From 1981-1988 she was Camp Director for Marydell Camp.
Sr. Eileen O’Farrell, RCD
Sister Eileen was born and raised in England. She immigrated with her family to the United States in 1949. In 1952, she entered the Sister of Our Lady of Christian Doctrine. Sister received a Bachelor and Masters degrees in Religious Education from Fordham University. For the past 71 years she ministered in New York, New Hampshire, Florida, and South Carolina, as a teacher and as a director of Religious Education. She is a writer of human-interest stories and shares many talents. Sister has served on the board for three years.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Jessica Wahlstrom
Chair
Jessica is a program developer and director who has worked with a number of non-profit organizations and health agencies in diverse settings across the globe. She also works as a freelance writer and creative project director. Jessica holds a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University and degrees in International Affairs and Spanish from the George Washington University.
Through her board leadership, Jessica helped steer efforts to strengthen MFLC as it transitioned into an organization directed by a lay board, overseeing the process of refining a vision and building the systems, team, and programs at its foundation. She continues to work in an advising capacity alongside the incredible Director of Operations and other key staff and board members.
As Director of Community Programs & Collaborations at Marydell, Jessica plans and directs a portfolio of diverse programs and partnerships that build and support creative and practical strategies for bolstering community mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing through social connection and environmental encounters.
Denise Adorante
Denise became a camper in the mid 60s and thus began years of summers spent at Marydell as a camper, kitchen/laundry worker, “CIT” and ultimately a counselor. Denise is a recently retired educator, teaching in the Independent School system in New York City for 43 years.
Chase R. Altneu
Chase R. Altneu has been on the Board of Marydell Faith and Life Center since 2022. In addition to being a neighbor and volunteer of Marydell, Chase is a financial professional working at large bank in New York City for the past 15 years. Chase graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of Rhode Island in 2008 with a minor focus in economics. He lives with his wife and chickens in Upper Nyack, NY and enjoys creating self-sustainable living for his family and for surrounding family and friends.
Carolyn Caulfield
Carolyn is a special education teacher to 3 – 5 year old autistic children in Jersey City, NJ. She has degrees in Journalism and Music, Education, and an MA in Special Education, she is also a certified paralegal. She is an active member of St. Michael’s RC church in Cranford, NJ. She volunteers for the Radio station Star99.1 FM Radio. The station spreads the Gospel and brings hope through its many ministers of Christian music. She is also very proud to be a former Marydell Camp camper and counselor. Her experiences as a teen at Camp Marydell literally saved and changed her life.
Diane Eppolito Gaber
Diane was a camper starting at the age seven and joyfully spent the next 13 summers at Marydell,
She has a bachelor’s degree in biology and health education from the College of Mount Saint Vincent as well as a master’s degree in Science education with a concentration in the biological sciences.
Diane has been a science teacher for the last 30 years. Diane is married to her husband Adam and they are blessed with four beautiful children and three grandchildren. She lives in Woodbury Connecticut . Her hobbies include teaching fitness classes as well as hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
Sr. Cecilia LaPietra, OP
Sister entered the Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill, NY on September 8, 1959. In 1994, after participating in different ministries, she began seeing many new faces around Sparkill. She and the other sisters thought the best service they could provide is to teach them English. Classes began in 1997. They had 39 students then and now, 25 years later, they are located in Marydell Faith & Life Center in Nyack with registration of 250 to 300 students.
Christina Leaño
Christina Leaño has over 30 years of leadership experience in social and environmental justice across both non-profit and academic settings. She currently serves as Associate Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, a global movement mobilizing the Catholic community for climate and ecological justice.In addition to her advocacy work, Christina is a retreat leader and spiritual director, drawing upon more than two decades of contemplative study and practice in both the Buddhist and Christian traditions. She first discovered Marydell in 2021, where she immediately found a home for spiritual refuge and healing. Christina lives in Nyack with her tween daughter and affectionate labradoodle.
Monica Lepore
Monica Lepore is a professor emeritus from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She currently keeps busy with Adapted Aquatics Instructor Training, coaching Special Olympics, triathlon coach for Down Syndrome Sports of America, teaching swim.
Marcia Lynch
Marcia Lynch is a retired teacher of the visually impaired. She has taught Religion at St. Ann’s School in Nyack and has volunteered with One to One Learning as a teacher.
Marcia has a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in teaching special needs children and a Master of Science degree in early childhood education from Syracuse University.
Marcia has lived in Nyack with her husband, Dennis, and their four children since 1976.
She currently volunteers as a teacher with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at Marydell.
Pat McQueen
Pat McQueen was one of the original Marydell campers. She enjoyed thirteen summers at Camp Marydell as a camper and then counselor before serving as Water Safety Instructor and Head Counselor. Pat credits her experiences with Marydell as being the source of important life lessons, helping her to build the confidence and skills that she would use throughout her life. She also credits Marydell with being an ongoing source of support and friendship through the challenges and joys of raising three children and a career as an educator. Pat remains in contact with those she’s met over the years. As a now retired elementary-aged classroom teacher, Pat returns to Marydell’s grounds weekly as a volunteer, once again supporting its mission.
Barbara Glover Williams, MSW
Barbara Glover Williams, MSW, was inducted into the Rockland County Commission on Human Rights Civil Rights Hall of Fame for making significant contributions to the advancement of equality, diversity, human rights and civil rights in Rockland County. After more than 10 years of being active in the civil rights movement in Anniston, Birmingham, and Montgomery Alabama she moved to New York, eventually settling in Nyack, NY. In 1972 she was elected chairperson of the Rockland Community Action Council, where she advocated low-income housing, equal employment opportunities, and founded the People’s Movement for Political Involvement. In the early 1980s, as Human Resource Manager at Federal Paper Board Co., she was devoted to fighting for diversity in the workplace. As an Employment Counselor/Job Developer at the Rockland County Guidance Center, she developed jobs and recruited employers to hire women here in Rockland County. For the past three decades Barbara has also operated programs and activities on Marydell’s grounds in a variety of capacities.
STAFF
Roxana Morel
Director of Operations
Roxana Morel is the Director of Operations at Marydell Faith & Life Center (MFLC), a role she has served in since 2021. Prior to working in her current role, Roxana provided finance and operations support to MFLC. A longtime Rockland County resident, Roxana graduated from Rockland Community College with a degree in Accounting and completed additional and related coursework at the Borough of Manhattan Community College and Dominican University. She worked in various roles with Finance Departments for several years at both Sony Electronics and Toys R Us.
When Roxana first visited Marydell’s grounds, she felt that they were in a beautiful slumber. As the on-site director and an essential member of the senior leadership team, she has supported the launch and growth of a variety of programs and offerings for members of the local community and beyond by overseeing all operational aspects of the grounds, its buildings, and the staff that maintain them.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Roxana’s role has been witnessing the profound impact that Marydell has on so many lives. She is thrilled that Marydell is emerging from that beautiful sleep to expand that impact and looks forward to continuing to work alongside the team of staff, board members, and volunteers dedicated to nurturing MFLC’s mission.
Ourania Grimes
Digital Communications & Administrative Mgr of Operations
Ondrej Basti
Groundskeeper
Natalia Lemus
Maintenance
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
Zaneta
Environmental Artist in Residence
More about Zaneta’s Work: Weaving local field recordings and environmental studies, sound art, percussion, community storytelling, and ancestral Filipinx traditions of tending to ecological relations, Zaneta’s work explores the role of sound in the experience of ecological belonging. Zaneta’s work has been presented in spaces such as the Brooklyn Museum, Los Angeles Natural History Museum, and at the Climate Imaginarium on Governor’s Island. Their upcoming project, Invitations from the Land: the Zena Highwoods (2025), was created in partnership with the Woodstock Land Conservancy and in collaboration with the Zena Highwoods, and will be premiering on Wave Farm streaming December 21, 2025. Their past projects Sacred Seasons (2020) and Where Land Meets Sky: Geophonic Transmissions for the Body (2022), were awarded the Brooklyn Arts Council grants.
To learn more about their work, visit www.soundartmagic.com or follow them on IG @soundartmagic.