Archdiocese of Newark death notices: June 2022
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in May:
Sister Margaret Mary Meyer, O.P.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 2, 2022, at St. Aloysius Church, in Caldwell, N.J., for Sister Margaret Mary Meyer, O.P., a Sister of St. Dominic Caldwell (formerly Sister M. Alacoque), who died on May 28, 2022.
Sister Margaret Mary, a woman of deep faith, was in her 68th year of religious life. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history and elementary education from Caldwell College (Caldwell University) and a master’s degree and certification from Fordham University in religious education. Sister Margaret Mary also had pursued CCD leadership training from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
A dedicated teacher, Sister Margaret Mary taught at Sacred Heart in Lyndhurst, N.J.; St. Virgil’s in Morris Plains, N.J.; and St. Francis de Sales, in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas. She was director of religious education at St. Joseph’s in East Rutherford, N.J.; St. Philomena’s in Livingston, N.J.; St. Jane de Chantel in North Hollywood, Calif.; St. Barnabas in New Haven, Conn.; Our Lady of Nazareth in Roanoke, Va.; and St. Margaret’s in Bayou LaBatre, Ala. Prior to her retirement, Sister Margaret Mary served as an administrative assistant in the congregation’s Generalate offices.
Musically inclined, Sister enjoyed singing in harmony with her classmates. One of her favorite places was Weston Priory, Vt., where she made retreats and listened to music of the Priory monks. Sister Margaret Mary loved being with her family, and together they enjoyed rooting for the New York Mets, playing scrabble, and attending parish liturgies.
Sister Jane Cavanaugh, S.C. ( Sr. Eugene Marie)
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, N.J., for Sister Jane Cavanaugh, a Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth (formerly Sr. Eugene Marie), who died on May 18, 2022.
Former ministry in Archdiocese of Newark: Teacher at Our Lady of Sorrows School in South Orange; St. Michael High School in Jersey City; assistant principal and first councilor at St. Michael High School in Jersey City.
Sister Grace Reape, S.C. ( Sr. Anne John)
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 26, 2022, at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, N.J., for Sister Grace Reape, a Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth (formerly Sr. Anne John), who died on May 19, 2022.
Rev. Fernando R. Po
The services for Christian Burial were celebrated from May 12 to May 17, 2022, at Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, for Reverend Fernando R. Po, a parochial vicar, who died on May 11, 2022.
Father Fernando R. Po was a retired parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth Parish in Wyckoff, N.J.
Sister Francis Paul Torre, O.S.F.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 10, 2022 at the Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania for Sister Francis Paul, a Franciscan Sister, who died on May 3, 2022.
She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood, a congregation which later merged with the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, and professed her first vows in 1944. She had been a professed member of the congregation for 78 years.
Sister Francis Paul ministered for 46 years in the Diocese of Paterson, and she served for eight years at St. Francis School in Haskell, five years at St. Catherine School in Ringwood, and a short time as superior of the Boy’s Camp in Ringwood. Fourteen of her years in the diocese were spent in administration for the Sisters of St. Francis of Ringwood as well as 19 years as administrator of St. Joseph Residence in Ringwood.
Sister Francis Paul spent 19 years in the Diocese of Brooklyn, where she taught and served as principal of Holy Family School for 13 years. She also taught at St. Benedict School and ministered in social work and parish ministry at St. Blaise Parish, Holy Family Parish, and St. Francis Paola Parish. Additional ministry work included one year in the Diocese of Newark at St. Ann School in Hoboken, New Jersey.
During her 11 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Sister Francis Paul served as a volunteer in the finance office of Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston. In 2019, she moved to Assisi House in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer and hospitality until her death.
Deacon Harold L. Bates, Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 31, at Church of the Ascension in New Milford, N.J., for Deacon Harold L. Bates, Jr., a retired deacon, who died on May 25, 2022.
Featured image: Christ the King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes, N.J. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Newark)
