A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 1in St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, Watchung, for Mercy Sister Jane Higgins, who died Aug. 29 in McAuley Hall Health Care Center.
Born in Palmyra, Sister Jane (formerly Sister Mary Eugene) attended Sacred Heart School, Riverton, and Camden Catholic High School, Camden. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Watchung in September 1941, and earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and a master’s degree in theology from Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.
Sister Jane’s first teaching assignment was St. Paul School, Burlington, where she taught for 13 years. Subsequent assignments included St. Ann School, Keansburg; Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville; St. Joseph School, Bound Brook, where she was principal; St. James School, Red Bank, and St. Francis Cathedral School, Metuchen. In 1982, she was assigned to St. Paul School, Princeton, where she resided for the next 34 years, serving at various times as teacher, assistant principal and receptionist. While serving in St. Paul School, she oversaw many service projects, especially those involving nursing facilities. She retired in 2016 and moved to Mount St. Mary, Watching, and then McAuley Hall Health care Center.
Sister Jane is survived by many nieces and nephews. Burial was in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield.