Obituary of Sr. Maria M. Studer, SC

SISTER MARIA MAGDALENA STUDER

Sister Maria Magdalena Studer, 89, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died on December 17, 2022 at Saint Joseph's Healthcare and Rehab Center, Cedar Grove, NJ.

Sister Maria Magdalena was born in Neptune, New Jersey, the daughter of Carl J. and Maria (Polhemus) Studer. She entered the Sisters of Charity on October 1, 1951 and was a member for 71 years.

Sister Magdalena graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ with a B.A. degree in Mathematics and from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN with an M.S. degree in Mathematics. Sister Magdalena was an Educator in New Jersey, New Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands. She served as a teacher and principal at the Academy of Saint Aloysius, Elementary and High School, Jersey City; Saint Peter High School, New Brunswick; teacher and Principal at Saints Peter & Paul High School, Saint Thomas, VI; Saint Catherine Indian School, Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Assistant Administrator at Maris Stella, Harvey Cedars, NJ. She was a Parish Minister at Saint Berard Parish, Navajo, New Mexico. She moved to Saint Joseph's Healthcare and Rehab Center in Cedar Grove, NJ in 2018, where she resided until her death.

Sister Magdalena was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Richard Studer and Carl Studer and three Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth aunts, Sisters Alice Mary, Francis Magdalen and Ruth Therese. She is survived by her Sister of Charity family, her brother Peter Studer (Inge), sisters-in -law Patricia (Luebkert) Studer, and sister-in-law Michele (Miroff) Studer. She has many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Sister Magdalena had a missionary heart and followed faithfully in the footsteps of Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Her numerous years spent as an educator and administrator in multicultural schools in NJ and the US Virgin Islands led her to share her many talents ministering to Native American people. She spent several years living and ministering on the Navajo Reservation in Navajo, New Mexico. Her legacy and energetic initiatives continue in St. Berard Parish through a strong and vibrant group of Navajo women who are members of the Seton Associates of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.

The wake for Sister Maria Magdalena Studer, SC will be held in Holy Family Chapel, 2 Convent Road, Convent Station, NJ from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2022. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. Masks are required. Burial will be in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station immediately following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ, 07961-0476 would be appreciated.