Obituary of SISTER MARY JUDE NICHOLSON

Sister Mary Jude Nicholson, a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception, passed away Tuesday afternoon, January 20, 2015 at St. Anne Villa in Florham Park. She was 88. She was born on January 26, 1926 in Orange, New Jersey to Edwin and Genevieve Nicholson, the oldest of 3. Sister Mary Jude entered the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception ,West Paterson, N.J., September 24, 1954. Following profession she worked in the Vocation Office where her letters were so inviting that many credited her responses as part of the reason for their choosing the Missionary Sisters. Later transferred to Austin, Texas to Holy Cross Hospital, she supervised the admission office. With the opening of Tombrock Junior College in West Paterson to lay students, Sister Mary Jude assisted in the Accounting Department. During this time, Sister continued to develop as an organist for the community. Sr. Mary Jude studied at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana for a Master of Science in Institutional Administration, becoming one of the first persons to be an accredited Admitting Manager, given by the National Association of Hospital Admitting Managers. She then worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Houston, Texas from 1974 to 1980. Following many years working in both the provincial and general secretariats of the congregation, Sr. Mary Jude's final assignment prior to retirement was as part of a local community guiding the congregation's international students in living community. Sister Mary Jude leaves two sisters, Ann Doyle of Cummings, Georgia and Claire Spengler of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. A wake service will be held at 10 am with the funeral liturgy to follow at 10:30am at St. Francis Residence, Denville on Monday, January 26 Interment will follow in the cemetery of the Missionary Sisters, Woodland Park, New Jersey. Memorial contributions may be made to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, 779 Broadway, Paterson, N.J. 07514