Obituaries for January 2026
Let us pray for our dearly departed clergy and religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in January.
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.
Monsignor João da Silva Antão
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on January 17 at the São Martinho de Salreu in Salreu, Portugal, for Monsignor João da Silva Antão. He died on January 15 at the Visconde de Salreu Hospital in Estarreja, at the age of 92.
Monsignor Antão dedicated his ministry to serving the Portuguese community in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and to social and humanitarian causes.
Born in 1933 in Campinos, Portugal, he was the son of José Nunes Antão and Ana Rosa da Silva, farmers. From an early age, he felt the call to a religious vocation and entered the Seminary of Santa Joana Princesa in Aveiro at the age of 11. His training continued at the Patriarchal Seminary of Christ the King of Olivais, in Lisbon, starting in 1956.
After his parents’ immigration to the United States, Monsignor Antão continued his priestly formation at the Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington for the Archdiocese of Newark. His theological studies continued at Seton Hall University. He was ordained a priest in 1960 at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Newark, New Jersey.
Appointed parochial vicar for the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Newark, he accompanied the Portuguese-speaking immigrants and founded a newspaper, Novos Rumos. He was later asked to lead a new Portuguese-speaking parish in Elizabeth, the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima, a project that he was strongly committed to.
Under Monsignor Antão’s leadership, the parish experienced a remarkable spiritual and structural growth, with the acquisition and expansion of several pastoral spaces, including a new parish complex and the transfer of the headquarters to the former Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima on October 2, 1983.
In 1985, in the context of his priestly jubilee, Monsignor Antão was awarded the Commendation of the Order of Infante D. Henrique by the then President of Portugal, General António Ramalho Eanes. In 2005, the City of Elizabeth named Monsignor João S Antão School No. 31 after him.
After his retirement, Monsignor Antão returned to Portugal, where he supported the clergy of the Diocese of Aveiro and served as a benefactor of various associations and cultural and humanitarian institutions.
Sister Hortensia (De Llano) Diaz
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in South Plainfield, New Jersey, for Sister Hortensia (De Llano) Diaz. She died peacefully on January 5 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey. Sister Hortensia was 80.
Born in Havana, Cuba, she was the daughter of Segundo and Anacleta De Llano. She attended Alvarez Academy in Havana for both her elementary and high school education. She married young, built a good life with her husband, and together they raised two sons. Though her marriage ultimately ended, she remained devoted to her family.
In the face of growing political unrest, she fled her homeland so that her family could have a better life. Before entering the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Hortensia worked at First Savings Bank in Woodbridge, New Jersey, for approximately 17 years. She often recalled the position with great fondness for the work and her colleagues.
Sister Hortensia entered the Sisters of Mercy in Watchung, New Jersey, in 1998. As part of her religious formation, she studied theology at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station.
Throughout her years of ministry, she served with dedication and gentleness in a variety of roles that reflected her love of people and her commitment to service. Sister Hortensia served as School Secretary at Marylawn of the Oranges Academy in South Orange. Her longest and most cherished ministry was with Catholic Charities in Bridgewater, where she served as a Family Advocate, Coordinator of Volunteers, and in Office Operations. In every place she served, Sister Hortensia was known for her kindness, quiet strength, and ability to make others feel welcomed and understood.
Her final years were spent at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, surrounded by a community she deeply loved and who loved her in return.
Sister Hortensia was predeceased by her son, Armando Diaz, and her brother, Luis Diaz. She is survived by her son, Ramiro Diaz, his wife, Marisol, and her beloved granddaughter, Cristina.
Sister Lawrence Mahon, SC
The Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, January 15, in Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey, for Sister Lawrence Mahon. She died on January 8 at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. Sister Lawrence was 98.
She was born in Newark, New Jersey, the daughter of Charles and Margaret (Comiskey) Mahon. Sister Lawrence entered the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1944, and served the Church and the people of New Jersey for many years. Throughout her religious life, Sister Lawrence responded to new situations and needs with dedication and openness.
Sister Lawrence graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station with a B.S. in mathematics, later earning an M.S. in administration and supervision from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City.
Sister Lawrence served in education for more than fifty years. She was an elementary school teacher at Saint Joseph’s School in Jersey City, Saint Peter’s School in New Brunswick, and Saint Michael’s School in Union City. She also taught mathematics at Saint Joseph’s Regional High School in Montvale and Saint Mary’s High School in Jersey City.
She served at Paramus Catholic Girls High School for 28 years as a teacher, vice principal, and principal. Sister Lawrence also served as the school’s first athletic director. She was responsible for developing the school’s interscholastic athletic program, which offered girls the opportunity to participate in almost any sport they were interested in. Active in several statewide athletic associations, she served as president of the Bergen County Woman Coaches Association.
In 2000, Sister Lawrence enrolled in the “Mission in Transition” program at St. Joseph Hospital & Medical Center, Paterson, providing Sister Lawrence with the opportunity to experience various roles within the hospital. She later served at St. Joseph’s as a patient representative at both the Paterson and Wayne campuses, as Vice President for Mission in Paterson, and as a patient advocate in the Emergency Department at the Paterson location.
In 2010, a sculpture was placed in the main entrance courtyard at St. Joseph’s Health in Paterson. One of the figures is a Sister of Charity, to pay tribute to the Sisters of Charity who founded the hospital. Sister Lawrence was the model for that figure.
Sister Lawrence was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Sister Teresa Marie Mahon, SC, her brothers William, Thomas, and Charles, and her grandniece Dawn Wendt. She is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
Sister Maureen Malone, SC
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey, on January 7 for Sister Maureen Malone, formerly Sister John Immaculate. She died on December 28 at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. Sister Maureen was 86.
She was born in Elizabeth, the daughter of John and Mary (Garvey) Malone. Sister Maureen entered the Sisters of Charity on March 6, 1957, and was a member for 68 years.
A graduate of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station with a B.A. in English, she also earned an M.A. in special education from Trenton State College in Trenton. Sister Maureen was also certified as a counselor and alcohol and drug counselor in New Jersey.
Sister Maureen’s first ministry experiences were in education. She was a teacher at St. Francis School in Ridgefield, St. Stephen School in Kearny, and Sacred Heart School in Trenton. As she became aware of the needs of children, teens, and families in the Trenton area, she felt called to offer care, compassion, and assistance to troubled youth and their families. Sister Maureen was instrumental in the founding of several programs that continue to provide services to the community in areas that include alcohol and drug addiction, lack of housing, HIV, poverty, and other family concerns.
She served as a counselor at Anchor House and Triad House in Trenton, and It Takes a Family in Cinnaminson. Additionally, Sister Maureen was an addictions counselor and Director of the New Choices Program at Catholic Charities in Trenton.
In 2010, she received the Cherish the Children Award from the Mercer County Department of Human Services for her tireless efforts on behalf of Mercer County’s children.
Sister Maureen was predeceased by her parents and her brother Thomas. She is survived by her nephew Michael, her niece Megan, her husband, Phil Blecker, grandniece Olivia, grandnephews Thomas and Sean, and many caring cousins.
Monsignor Jeremias Ras Rebanal, JCD, PhD
A Funeral Mass was held on January 31 at Saint Aedan Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, for Monsignor Jeremias Ras Rebanal. He died on January 24 at the age of 95.
Ordained on March 26, 1955, as a priest for the Diocese of Legazpi, Philippines, after studies at the Holy Rosary Archdiocesan Seminary in Naga City, he served for 71 years, touching countless lives through his ministry, scholarship, and an extraordinary gift for making every conversation substantive.
Sent by his bishop for graduate studies in Canon Law at U. of Santo Tomas, he would later earn doctoral degrees in jurisprudence (JCD) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and in sociology (PhD) from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Monsignor Rebanal’s pastoral journey carried him from the Philippines to Canada to New Jersey, where he served as Pastor of St. Aedan’s Church in Jersey City until his retirement. Called to unite cultures and communities, he organized and coordinated both the Filipino Apostolate and Hispanic Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Newark, building them into vibrant communities. While doing so, he mentored other Filipino priests and created spaces where faith and heritage flourished together.
Equally at home in the pulpit and the classroom, Monsignor Rebanal served as Dean of the Graduate School at Aquinas University and Professor at St. Vincent’s School of Theology in the Philippines. He also held academic positions at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and the University of Windsor in Ontario. Monsignor Rebanal also served as a judge on marriage tribunals in Newark and London, Ontario.
As a priest, Monsignor Rebanal was emotionally engaged and deeply present. Though a leader of extraordinary accomplishment, he never led alone—he brought people along, invested in their formation, and created community wherever he went. His faith was lived not just in grand gestures but in the daily practice of showing up, listening deeply, and serving tirelessly.
Father John J. Spino, Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on January 12 at the Church of St. Joseph the Carpenter in Roselle, New Jersey, for Father John J. Spino, Jr. He died on December 31 at the age of 90.
The son of Alice and John Spino Sr., he attended St. Joseph’s grammar school in Kingston, NY, and Kingston High School. Father Spino received a B.A. from Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY. After college, he joined the National Guard and served 6 months on active duty and 5 1/2 years in the Reserves. A career with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company followed. He was eventually promoted to Manager of District Office Clerical Personnel throughout the United States, then to the Manager of Field Services for Field Management.
After retiring from MetLife in 1986, he responded to the call to the priesthood by entering the Immaculate Conception Seminary for the Archdiocese of Newark. Father Spino was ordained to the priesthood in 1990 and began his ministry as an assistant at St. Joseph’s Parish in Jersey City. In 1997, he was transferred to Roselle, where he became an assistant at the Church of St. Joseph the Carpenter. Upon his retirement in 2005, he assisted at multiple parishes in Ocean and Monmouth Counties.
Prior to becoming a priest, Father Spino was a godparent to 13 children of family members and friends.
An admirer of Broadway theater, especially musicals, Father Spino became involved in community theater after his retirement, performing roles in In the Beginning, 42nd Street, Bye-Bye Birdie, Annie, The Boyfriend, Godspell, Seussical the Musical, and Lil Abner. He also wrote two plays, The Passion and The Birth of Jesus, which he directed in Spanish for 8 years. The plays continue to be performed annually at Epiphany Church in Brick, NJ.
Father Spino was predeceased by his parents, Alice and John, sister Elizabeth Guadagnola, and her husband Charles. He is survived by his nephews, Thomas Guadagnola and Vincent Guadagnola, and his niece Eileen Janurn.
Sister Jean Marie Stabile, SC
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey, on January 8 for Sister Jean Marie Stabile, SC, formerly Sister Jean Francis. She died on December 23 at Complete Care at St. Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. Sister Jean Marie was 100.
Born in Somerville, N.J., the daughter of Frank and Helen (Brown) Stabile, Sister Jean entered the Sisters of Charity in 1943 and was a member for 82 years.
She graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station with a B.S. in English. Later, she earned an M.A. in English from Villanova University and an M.S. in Education, Administration & Supervision from Fordham University.
Sister Jean served for more than 50 years in the ministry of education. Starting at the elementary level, she taught at St. Rose of Lima School in Newark and St. Anastasia’s School in Teaneck. She next returned to her alma mater, St. Peter’s High School in New Brunswick, followed by St. Mary’s High School in Jersey City and Saints Peter and Paul High School in St. Thomas, the Virgin Islands. Sister Jean returned to New Jersey to serve at St. Cecilia High School in Englewood and Immaculate Conception High School in Montclair, where she also served as assistant principal.
In 1979, Sister Jean returned to St. Peter’s High School as principal. She remained active in the classroom, teaching a class daily. Following this ministry, Sister Jean served at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station as a teacher and Dean of Students.
Additionally, Sister Jean served her congregation as Assistant Provincial of the Western Province and as a driver for the local community at the Convent of Saint Elizabeth.
Sister Jean was predeceased by her parents and her five brothers, Francis, Jack, Richard, Michael, and Joseph. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Geraldine (Penny), three nieces and one nephew—all children of her brother, Michael—along with nine grandnieces and grandnephews, and six great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
Sister Emily Marie Walsh, SC
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on January 22 at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, New Jersey, for Sister Emily Marie Walsh, SC. She died on January 17 at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. Sister Emily was 104.
At the time of her death, Sister Emily was the oldest living Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Born in Orange, the daughter of Margaret Mary (Treacy) and John Walsh, she entered the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1938, and was a member for 87 years.
Sister Emily graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station with a B.S. in education and from Seton Hall University in South Orange with an M.A. in administration and supervision. She also completed continuing education courses focused on gerontology, pastoral counseling, and ministry to the sick.
She served as an educator and pastoral minister in New Jersey. Sister Emily taught at St. Paul of the Cross School in Jersey City, Our Lady of Sorrows School in South Orange, and St. Andrew School in Westwood. She also served as the Principal at Saint Andrew School.
In 1964, Sister Emily began a 51-year ministry at Holy Trinity School and Parish in Hackensack. After two years as a teacher and Assistant Principal, Sister Emily assumed the role of Principal. In 1979, she began her pastoral ministry at Holy Trinity. Her responsibilities included visiting the sick, coordinating the parish communion ministers, the bereavement ministry, and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She retired from her ministry at Holy Trinity Parish in 2015 at the age of 94. In 2018, the parish honored her, dedicating the street in front of the church as Sister Emily’s Way. The parish history states that this was a “fitting tribute to a woman of faith who was Christ to generations of Hackensackers.”
Sister Emily was predeceased by her parents; her sisters, Margaret Bradley and Patricia Marinaro; her brothers, James, John, Robert, Luke, and Charles; her nieces, Kathryn Walsh Inge, Treacy Mallon Krisztinicz, Susan Walsh Moynihan, and Nancy Walsh Krawczyk; and her nephew, James J. Walsh. She is survived by her sister, Catherine Mallon, along with many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
