Obituaries for June 2024
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in June.
Father John P. Holian
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Mountainside, N.J. for Father John P. Holian.
Father Holian, a dedicated servant of faith and compassion, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 17, 2024 at the Lourdes Noreen McKeen Residence, West Palm Beach, at the age of 86.
Father Holian was known for his unwavering commitment to his parishioners, his compassionate service as a hospital chaplain at Overlook Medical Center, Summit, N.J. and his tireless work with Alcoholic Anonymous and Matt Talbot retreats.
Ordained on May 25, 1963, by Archbishop Thomas Boland, Father Holian’s spiritual journey was marked by his deep empathy and relentless dedication to helping others. He served in various parishes across the Archdiocese of Newark (Saint Michaels in Newark, Saint Peter Claver in Montclair, Saint Catherine of Sienna in Cedar Grove, and Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Park Ridge) before finding his true calling as a hospital chaplain at Overlook Medical Center, where he provided comfort, solace, and spiritual guidance to patients and their families for over 17 years. His gentle presence and kind words brought peace to many during their most challenging times.
Beyond his parochial ministries and chaplaincy, Father Holian was a staunch advocate for those battling addiction. As a member and mentor in Alcoholics Anonymous, he dedicated countless hours to supporting individuals on their paths to recovery. His personal testimony and unwavering support were for many a beacon of hope, and his legacy with the AA community will be long remembered by many.
Father Holian was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Loretta Holian, and his sister Janet. He is survived by countless friends and parishioners who were touched by his kindness and generosity. His life was a testament to the power of faith, compassion, and the importance of community.
Father Holian’s life was a profound example of love and service, things we should all model in our lives. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Father Andres J. Reyes
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Holy Trinity R.C. Church in Hackensack, N.J. for Father Andres J. Reyes.
Father Reyes of Hackensack, formerly of Belleville, Bergenfield, Newark, Jersey City, Ridgefield Park, Union City, and Elizabeth, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at the age of 81 years.
Father Reyes was ordained on Nov. 21, 1970, in Bogota, Colombia by Bishop Eduardo Boza Masvidal and was incardinated to the Archdiocese of Newark on Oct. 9, 1986.
He was assigned to St. Michael’s Church, Elizabeth in 1971. In 1974, he went to Honduras as a National Director for Family Life. Upon returning to New Jersey in 1975, he was assigned to Holy Family Church in Union City. Throughout the years, he was assigned to St. Rose of Lima in Newark, St. Francis Church in Ridgefield Park, St. John’s Church in Bergenfield, Holy Trinity Church in Hackensack, St. Peter’s Church in Belleville, and retired as Pastor of St. Paul of the Cross in Jersey City after 17 years.
In pursuit of offering his parishioners and the general public his best, in 1988 Father Reyes obtained a Master’s Degree from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University in New York and later obtained a NJ License as a Clinical Social Worker.
After retiring, he continued to assist at Holy Trinity, and in Teaneck, Bogota, and Westfield.
Sister Kathleen Doyle, CSJP
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. for Sister Kathleen Doyle, CSJP.
Sister Doyle, 82, of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., died peacefully at St. Michael Villa on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
She was born on Dec. 28, 1941, in West New York, N.J., the only child of the late Martin Hilary Doyle and Brigid Theresa Lynch.
Sister Doyle became a Postulant on Sept. 12, 1959, at St. Michael Novitiate, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., then a Novice on July 2, 1960. She pronounced Final Vows there on June 20, 1967.
Sister Doyle graduated from Caldwell College in 1968 with a B.A. in History and Elementary Education; Seton Hall University with an M.A. in Administration and Supervision in 1973; Villanova University, Pa., with an M.A. in Religious Studies in 1982; and a Certificate of Theological Studies in Spirituality from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, Cali. in 1986.
Sister Doyle taught at St. Anne’s School in Fair Lawn, N.J.; St. James School, Penns Grove, N.J.; Our Lady of Peace, Fords, N.J.; St. Ann’s School, Trenton, N.J.; St. Elizabeth’s School, Wyckoff, N.J.; and St. Joseph’s School, Beverly, N.J. She was the Director of Elementary Education for the Trenton Diocese; Pastoral Associate and DRE at St. James Parish, Pennington, N.J.; Principal at St. Joseph School, East Rutherford, N.J.; and DRE at Star of the Sea in Lake Hopatcong, N.J.
In 1998 she was asked to serve as the Director of Ministry and Formation for the Eastern Region of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace until 2003. Sister then returned to her ministry as DRE at St. Joseph’s School, Bogota, N.J.; Pastoral Associate for Sacramental Preparation at St. Mary’s Parish, Dumont, N.J. before returning as DRE to Our Lady Star of the Sea in Lake Hopatcong, N.J. for an additional 8 years. She served as Pastoral Life Coordinator at St. Michael Villa, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. as well as Moderator on the Guild for the Sisters. Sister Doyle joined the St. Michael Villa Community in 2023.
Sister Jane Teresa Culligan, S.C.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, N.J. for Sister Jane Teresa Culligan.
Sister Culligan, 91, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died June 26, 2024, at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s in Cedar Grove, N.J.
Sister Culligan was born in Newark, N.J., the daughter of Joseph and Jane (Wallace) Culligan. She entered the Sisters of Charity on Sept. 6, 1955, and was a member for 68 years.
Sister Culligan graduated from the College (University) of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, N.J. with a B.A. degree in English; from Seton Hall University, South Orange N.J. with an M.A. in Education; and from Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y. with a M.S. degree in Pastoral Counseling. Sister Culligan also studied Creative Arts and Drama at New York University, N.Y. and received certification in Drama Therapy from Essex County Hospital, Cedar Grove, N.J.
Sister Culligan’s first ministry was as an educator in New Jersey. She served as a teacher at St. Agnes School, Paterson; St. Michael School, Union City; St. Margaret of Scotland School, Morristown; Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Scotch Plains; and Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark. Some years later she served as a counselor at Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School, in Cranston, R.I.
Sister Culligan was a Dance and Creative Arts Therapist at Essex County Hospital, Cedar Grove, and Activity Therapist at St. Joseph Hospital, Paterson. She was a Dance Therapist at Cornerstone Counseling Center in Cranston, Rhode Island and she served in Pastoral Ministry at Sacred Heart Parish, South Plainfield, NJ and as a Youth Minister at Epiphany Parish, Cliffside Park.
Sister Culligan served in Rhode Island for twenty-five years. She was a Spiritual Director at Our Lady of Peace Spiritual Life Center, Narragansett, and a Counselor, Spiritual Director, and Dance Therapist at Rolfe Square Counseling Center and at Cornerstone Counseling Center in Cranston. She also served as Pastoral Minister at the Body of Christ Chapel, Coventry, RI.
Sister Culligan coordinated and served as Spiritual Director for more than twenty group retreats and pilgrimages to Medjugorje in Bosnia. She also served as the Rhode Island Director and New England Coordinator of the Medjugorje in America organization.
Sister Culligan returned to New Jersey in 2011. She served as Assistant Director of the Sister (now Blessed) Miriam Teresa League, Convent Station, and volunteered at the Bethlehem Hermitage in Chester.
Sister Culligan was a woman of deep faith, whose gentle spirit was an inspiration and support to many people. Her gift of dance enhanced many liturgical celebrations and enriched the lives of the people whom she counseled.
Sister Culligan was predeceased by her parents; her sisters Marie Fink, Helen Kane, Frances Kuebler, Catherine Keane ,and Margaret MacKenzie; her brother Joseph; her niece Carol Downs; and her nephews Robert Lancaster, Peter Ewtushek, James Kane, and James Keane. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her brother Thomas, and her sister-in-law Diane, many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great grandnieces, and great grandnephews.
Sister Margaret Nulty, S.C.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Sister Margaret Nulty at Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station, N.J. on Tuesday, July 2.
Sister Nulty, (90) formerly Sister Vincent Eileen, a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, died June 24, 2024, at Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s, Cedar Grove, N.J.
Sister Nulty was born in Plainfield, N.J., the daughter of Maurice and Margaret (Beggan) Nulty. She entered the Sisters of Charity on March 6, 1953 and was a member for 71 years.
Sister Nulty graduated from the College (University) of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, N.J. with a B.A. degree in English and the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana with an M.A. degree in English. She studied at the Instituto de Idiomas in Cochabamba, Bolivia as well.
Sister Nulty served in the education ministry in the State of New Jersey and the Virgin Islands. She served as a teacher at St. Teresa School, Summit; St. Michael High School, Jersey City; St. Peter High School, New Brunswick; Paramus Catholic Regional High School, Paramus; St. Mary High School, Jersey City; St. Benedict’s Prep School, Newark; Immaculate Conception High School, Montclair. Sister Margaret was Principal at Saints Peter and Paul High School, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and St. Cecilia High School, Englewood.
Sister Nulty taught English as a Second Language for over 30 years, at times while also serving in another ministry. She served as Literacy Director at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Passaic, and taught English as a Second Language at Paterson Adult School in Paterson, Georgian Court University in Lakewood, St. Francis Community Center in Toms River, and at Ocean County College in Toms River. She retired from this ministry in December 2023. When her students expressed interest in becoming United States citizens, Sister Nulty began a program to prepare them for the citizenship process.
Sister Nulty served the Sisters of Charity as Provincial Councilor for the Northern Province, as Director of Novices, and as Program Director at Maris Stella Retreat and Conference Center in Harvey Cedars. She also served as Associate Director of the Leadership Conference of Woman Religious in Washington, DC.
Sister Peggy was a woman of deep faith, committed to social justice. She was known as a dedicated educator, demanding but compassionate. She was devoted to her family and her students.
Sister Peggy was predeceased by her parents; her brother George; her brothers-in-law Richard Keefe and Frank Culley; Nana Kay Nulty; and her niece Kathleen Keefe. She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her sisters Marion Keefe and Kathleen Culley, her sister-in-law Maureen Nulty, many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
