A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 3 in St. Lucy Chapel at Villa Walsh, Morristown, for Filippini Sister Mary V. Cilurzo who died Nov. 29 in St. Joseph Hall Home Healthcare Facility. Father Ronald Sordillo from the Diocese of Paterson who ministers to the Filippini sisters in St. Joseph Hall, was principal celebrant of the Mass.

Born in Soverato, Italy, Sister Mary was a young child when she arrived to the United States and lived in Syracuse, N.Y. She entered the Religious Teachers Filippini July 13, 1949; received the religious habit Sept. 3, 1950 and made her final religious profession Aug. 17, 1953.

Sister Mary earned an associate of arts degree from Villa Walsh College. She taught in schools in the Archdiocese of Newark; Hartford, Baltimore and in the Dioceses of Ogdensburg, Trenton, Paterson, Scranton, Providence and Norwich. In the Trenton Diocese, she served as a second grade teacher in St. Joachim School, Trenton, from 1960-1963 and from 1965-1968; was a third grade teacher in Holy Trinity School, Long Branch, from 1968-1969, and taught remedial reading in St. James School, Trenton, from 1983-1984.

Sister Mary retired to Villa Walsh in 1993 where she assisted with domestic responsibilities and dedicated time to prayer. She became a resident of St. Joseph Hall, Villa Walsh, in 2004.

Sister Mary was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Maria (Viscomi) Cilurzo. She is survived by two brothers and two sisters.

Burial was in Ave Maria Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Hall, c/o Sister Ascenza Tizzano, provincial superior, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960-4912.