Obituaries for February 2026

Let us pray for our dearly departed clergy and religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in February.

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

Sister Jane Frances Brady, SC

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on February 2 at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey, for Sister Jane Frances Brady. She died on January 23, surrounded by family, at Saint Catherine of Siena Health Care Facility in Caldwell. Sister Jane was 67,

Born in White Plains, New York, she was the daughter of Joseph and Helen (Mooney) Brady. Before entering religious life, Sister Jane worked in the Long Lines Division of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company in White Plains, New York. She pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station; a Master of Business Administration in Business Management from Seton Hall University in South Orange; and a Master of Science in Hospital Administration from Columbia University’s School of Public Health and Administrative Medicine in New York.

Sister Jane’s ministry focused on healthcare. She served as Executive Secretary for the Office of the Secretary General of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth and devoted more than three decades to Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson. Beginning as an administrative assistant, she advanced through positions of increasing responsibility, serving as Administrator and later as President and Chief Executive Officer.

During her tenure, Sister Jane oversaw the opening of one of New Jersey’s first children’s hospitals, a cardiovascular surgery program, a neonatal intensive care unit, and a trauma center. She also led the center’s expansion outside of Paterson with the integration of the Wayne campus. She later served as Executive Director of Eva’s Village in Paterson, continuing her lifelong commitment to the poor and marginalized.

Sister Jane volunteered extensively, including service as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) in Morris and Sussex Counties, with Children’s Specialized Hospital, New Jersey, and with Healing the Children Mid-Atlantic, Inc., where she traveled overseas to Africa and Latin America on healthcare missions. She also held numerous trustee positions and served on many healthcare-related boards.

A passionate advocate for the underprivileged and underserved, Sister Jane was deeply committed to equity in healthcare and was instrumental in advancing Charity Care for those without insurance. In recognition of her many remarkable contributions, she received many honors, including her induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2020.

Sister Jane was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Helen Brady; her sister, Helen Hill; and her nephew, Andrew Hill. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Laura Dijkstra, Mark Hill, Thomas Hill, and Jane Moppert (Wayne); and many grandnephews and grandnieces, including Tommy, Alexandra, and Kiana Hill, Juliana and Emily Dijkstra, and Gianna Hill.

Father Richard D. Carlson

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on February 7 at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Summit, New Jersey, for Father Richard D. Carlson. He died peacefully at the age of 82 on January 31 at Rose Garden Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Toms River.

Born and raised in Summit, he was the devoted son of the late Charles J. and Elizabeth (nee Fitzgerald) Carlson. Father Carlson was a graduate of Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary. Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark in 1969, he dedicated his vocation to pastoral leadership, faith formation, and compassionate ministry.

Father Carlson served as both pastor and administrator at various parishes within the Archdiocese, where he was known for his steady presence, thoughtful guidance, and genuine care for parishioners and local communities. Upon retiring in 2013, Fr. Carlson made Lavalette his home, continuing his ministry in part at Visitation Church in Ocean County.

Beyond his parish responsibilities, Father Carlson was deeply committed to community service, taking an active part in Worldwide Marriage Encounter conferences. In 1993, he assisted in coordinating the 25th jubilee of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Conference, held at Rutgers University. He was also recognized for his volunteer work with the New Jersey Special Olympics, a cause that reflected his belief in dignity, inclusion, and joyful service to others. Fr. Richard was also an Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus Council 672.

Father Carlson was predeceased by his brothers Charles, Raymond, and Philip Carlson. He is survived by his brother James Carlson and his wife Laura of Kingwood, Texas, along with many nieces and nephews.

Sister Maeve McDermott, SC

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on February 12 at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey, for Sister Maeve McDermott, SC. She died on February 3 at Complete Care at St. Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. Sister Maeve was 92.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of John and Delia (Regan) McDermott, Sister Maeve entered the Sisters of Charity in 1951. She was a dedicated member of the congregation for 74 years.

A graduate of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, she earned a B.A. degree in English. Sister Maeve later earned an M.A. in elementary education. She also studied at the Center for Public Policy in Cambridge, MA.

Sister Maeve served in the ministry of education in Jersey City for 63 years. She taught at St. Michael’s School and St. Patrick’s School, later moving to All Saints Convent, where she served the All Saints community for 46 years.

After initially serving a dual role as teacher and principal at All Saints School, Sister Maeve became a full-time principal there, with her leadership roles continuing as parish boundaries changed. She later became the Director of Trinity Child Care Center and served her community as Coordinator of Education for the Northern Province of the Sisters of Charity.

Sister Maeve was predeceased by her parents, Delia and John, and her brothers Jack, Edward, and Joseph. She is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Featured image: Stained glass window in All Saints Catholic Church, St. Peters, Missouri (Photo by Nheyob / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Altered by Jersey Catholic)