Obituary of SISTER ROSEMARY MCGAVIN

Sister Rosemary McGavin, 85, formerly Sister Catherine Imelda, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died Saturday, February 17, 2018 at The Villa, Florham Park, NJ. Sister Rosemary was born in Jersey City, NJ, the daughter of Harry and Yolo (Bonino) Mc Gavin. She entered the Sisters of Charity on October 1, 1950 and was a member for 67 years. Sister Rosemary graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey. Sister Rosemary was an Educator in New Jersey. She served as a teacher in St. Paul of the Cross School, Jersey City; St. Rose of Lima School, Short Hills; St. Mary School, Jersey City; St. Catharine School, Glen Rock; St. Francis School, Ridgefield Park; Holy Trinity School, Fort Lee (Pastoral Ministry); St. Nicholas School, Palisades Park, and St. George School, Paterson. In 1991, she transitioned from the classroom to Parish Ministry at Epiphany Parish, Cliffside Park where she was engaged in many different areas. She served on the school office staff assisting with planning and development. When the school closed she moved to pastoral ministry in the parish where she particularly enjoyed her ministry as a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound. In subsequent years, Sister Rosemary served in the Senior Citizens Residence, Cliffside Park where she assisted with clerical work. She continued her ministry of visiting the homebound of Cliffside Park while residing in St. Philip Convent, Saddle Brook. In 2013, she moved to St. Joseph Hospital Convent, Paterson where she did volunteer work. In 2015, she moved to the Villa where she resided until her death. Sister Rosemary was a woman of many talents and a great sense of humor. She loved teaching and the lasting relationships with the different Sisters with whom she shared community life. She had a quick wit and would regale her friends with many humorous stories. Her talent for embellishing a tale made for good times among family and friends. This ability probably made her visits to the homebound a delightful adventure. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Raymond and sister, Yola Mardaga. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity; Mike Mardaga, her brother-n-law; Peter Mardaga, nephew; Claudine McGovern, niece; great tnieces and great nephews; and, by faithful friends, Sisters Joseph Marian Hudson and Elizabeth Holler. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476 would be greatly appreciated.