Obituary of Sr. Jane Culligan, SC

Sister Jane Teresa Culligan, (91) a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died June 26, 2024, at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s in Cedar Grove, NJ.

Sister Jane was born in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Wallace) Culligan. She entered the Sisters of Charity on September 6, 1955, and was a member for 68 years.

Sister Jane graduated from the College (University) of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, New Jersey with a B.A. degree in English, from Seton Hall University, South Orange NJ with a M.A. in Education and from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY with a M.S. degree in Pastoral Counseling. Sister Jane also studied Creative Arts and Drama at New York University, New York and received certification in Drama Therapy from Essex County Hospital, Cedar Gove, NJ.

Sister Jane’s first ministry was as an educator in New Jersey. She served as a teacher at St. Agnes School, Paterson, NJ; St. Michael School, Union City; St. Margaret of Scotland School, Morristown; Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Scotch Plains and Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark. Some years later she served as a counselor at Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School, in Cranston, Rhode Island.

Sister Jane was a Dance and Creative Arts Therapist at Essex County Hospital, Cedar Grove, and Activity Therapist at St. Joseph Hospital, Paterson, NJ. She was a Dance Therapist at Cornerstone Counseling Center in Cranston, Rhode Island and she served in Pastoral Ministry at Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield, NJ and as a Youth Minister at Epiphany Parish, Cliffside Park, NJ.

Sister Jane’s served in Rhode Island for twenty-five years. She was a Spiritual Director at Our Lady of Peace Spiritual Life Center, Narragansett, and a Counselor, Spiritual Director, and Dance Therapist at Rolfe Square Counseling Center and at Cornerstone Counseling Center in Cranston. She also served as Pastoral Minister at the Body of Christ Chapel, Coventry, RI.

Sister Jane Teresa coordinated and served as Spiritual Director for more than twenty group retreats and pilgrimages to Medjugorje in Bosnia. She also served as the Rhode Island Director and New England Coordinator of the Medjugorje in America organization.

Sister Jane returned to New Jersey in 2011. She served as Assistant Director of the Sister (now Blessed) Miriam Teresa League, Convent Station and volunteered at the Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester.

Sister Jane was a woman of deep faith, whose gentle spirit was an inspiration and support to many people. Her gift of dance enhanced many liturgical celebrations and enriched the lives of the people whom she counseled.

Sister Jane was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Marie Fink, Helen Kane, Frances Keubler, Catherine Keane and Margaret MacKenzie, her brother Joseph, her niece Carol Downs and her nephews Robert Lancaster, Peter Ewtushek, James Kane, and James Keane. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her brother Thomas, and her sister-in-law Diane, many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces, and great grandnephews.

The wake for Sister Jane Teresa Culligan will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, NJ. The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 AM. The Mass will be livestreamed. Burial in Holy Family Cemetery, Convent Station, will immediately follow the mass. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of S. J. Priola Funeral Home, Lake Hiawatha, NJ.

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