A Mass of Christian was celebrated Sept. 11 in St. Katharine Drexel Parish, St. Paul Church, Burlington, for Franciscan Sister Mary Jude Stewart who died Sept. 7 in Jolenta Convent, Syracuse, N.Y.

Born in Burlington, Sister Mary Jude was a Sister of St. Francis for 56 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Oswego State College and a master’s degree from St. Bonaventure University, Olean, N.Y.

Sister Mary Jude taught organized prayer services and plays in grammar schools for many years in New York and several South Jersey parishes. She was director of religious education in St. Casimir Parish, Riverside, which is now part of Resurrection Parish, Delran, and for more than 30 years, she was a dedicated and devoted special needs religious education teacher for the Holy Innocents Society in St. Peter Parish, Riverside, which is now part of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Riverside.

Offering comment on Sister Mary Jude’s passing was Rose Anna Romanello, director of the Holy Cross Center of Learning, Trenton.

“I don’t believe that any of us who knew her will forget her devotion to all of God’s special children,” said Romanello. “She served the community of St. Peter Center for 31 years through June 30, 2008. What a nun! What a woman!” Romanello’s husband, Angelo, is president of the Trenton Diocese’s Holy Innocents Society.

Sister Mary Jude was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Sophia McDevitt Stewart, three brothers and one sister. She is survived by several nieces, nephews and members of the Sisters of St. Francis.

Burial was in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Development Office, 1118 Court St., Suite #32, Syracuse, N.Y. 13208.