Obituaries for August 2026

Let us pray for our dearly departed religious sister whose Mass of Christian Burial was held in August.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Sr. Mary Ellen Verdon, SC

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on August 6 for Sister Mary Ellen Verdon, SC, formerly Sister Michael Julia. She died peacefully on August 1. Sister Mary Ellen was 89.

Daughter of Michael and Julia (Lynch) Verdon, she was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and had two brothers, Thomas and John. Sister Mary Ellen entered the Sisters of Charity on September 6, 1954, and was a member for 71 years.

Sister Mary Ellen graduated from St. Raphael School of Nursing in New Haven, Connecticut with an RN degree in Nursing, from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. with a BSN degree in Nursing, and from Seton Hall University in South Orange with an MSN degree in Nursing.

Sister Mary Ellen served in health ministries located in New Jersey, Connecticut and Bolivia. She was a nurse at the Hospital of St. Raphael, Connecticut and in Caranavi, Bolivia. She was Director of Nursing Services, St. Anne Villa in Convent Station and was a Registered Nurse/Clinical Specialist at Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove for 19 years.

Sister Mary Ellen is survived by her sister-in-law, Helen Verdon, as well as her nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, her brothers Thomas and his wife, Patricia and John, and nephews Thomas Verdon, Jr. and Paul Verdon.