Obituaries for October 2024
We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in October.
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 HARRIET HAMILTON, C.S.J.P.
A Mass of Christian burial was held for Sister Harriet Hamilton, C.S.J.P., on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Sister Harriet, a Sister of Saint Joseph of Peace, died peacefully at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs on October 7, 2024, at the age of 80. She was born on December 9, 1943, in Newark, the youngest of six children of the late William John Hamilton and Margaret Veronica Scully.
Sister Harriet became a Postulant on September 12, 1963, at St. Michael Novitiate, Englewood Cliffs, then a Novice on July 2, 1964. She pronounced Final Vows there on April 15, 1976.
Sister Harriet graduated from Archangel College, Englewood Cliffs, in 1966 and Fairleigh Dickenson University, Teaneck, NJ, in 1973 with a BSW in Social Work. She received an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, from New Jersey City University in 2002.
Sister Harriet taught at St. Rose of Lima in Hanover, NJ, was a Housemother at St. Joseph Village in Rockleigh, NJ, and was a Social Worker for Unwed Mothers at Catholic Charities in Newark, NJ.
In 1977, she became the Director of Personnel at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind, Jersey City, until 1988. From there, she became the Assistant Director of the Nurturing Place at St. Joseph Home, Jersey City, working in Child Development.
In 1997, Sr. Harriet became the Executive Director of the York Street Project, Jersey City, and the Director of St. Mary’s Residence in Jersey City in 2003 where she served until she retired in 2017.
Sr. Harriet was predeceased by her brothers, John, Richard, William, and Robert Hamilton. She is survived by her sister, Margaret “Peggy” McDermott, and many nieces and nephews.
SISTER ANNE CROGHAN, C.S.J.P.
A Mass of Christian burial was held for Sister Anne Croghan, C.S.J.P., on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Sister Anne, a Sister of Saint Joseph of Peace, died peacefully at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs on October 12, 2024. She was born in Roxboro, Roscommon County, Ireland, on February 19, 1924, to the late Thomas and Annie Croghan.
Sister Anne entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace on February 2, 1944, in Nottingham, England, before moving to New Jersey in 1946. She celebrated eighty years of religious life in 2024.
Sister Anne taught at St. James School, Penns Grove, NJ; Our Lady of Mercy School, Whippany, NJ; Barbara Givernaud, N. Bergen, NJ; St. Genevieve’s School, Van Nuys, CA; Holy Cross School, Wayne, NJ; St. Joseph School, Medford, NJ; St. Margaret’s School, Little Ferry, NJ; St. Rose of Lima, East Hanover, NJ; Most Holy Name, Garfield, NJ; St. Joseph Village, Rockleigh, NJ and St. James School, Newark, NJ. Sr. Anne was also a Pastoral Associate at Holy Rosary, Edgewater, NJ, and Stella Maris, Elberon, NJ. In 1998, Sister Anne retired to St. Michael Villa, where she continued ministering.
Sister Anne was predeceased by her brothers Luke, Brendan, Charles, and Thomas Croghan, and her sisters Maureen Maloney and Kathleen Phillips. She is survived by her many nieces and nephews.
SISTER AUGUSTINE “GUSSIE” O’DONNELL, O.P.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Sister Mary Augustine O’Donnell, O.P., on October 22, 2024, at Saint Aloysius Church in Caldwell, NJ.
Sister Augustine, fondly known as “Sister Gussie,” a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell for 73 years, died on October 14, 2024, at the age of 97, at Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center in Caldwell, NJ.
Sister Gussie, the daughter of William and Mildred (Hand) O’Donnell, was born in Rahway, NJ. She worked as a bookkeeper for 8 years before entering the Sisters of Saint Dominic on September 8, 1951. She received the Dominican habit on April 19, 1952, made her first profession on June 27, 1953, and made her final profession on June 27, 1959.
Sister Gussie graduated from Caldwell University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Studies and Education. For 37 years, Sister Gussie ministered as a counselor and administrative assistant at Emmaus House in Ocean Grove, NJ. She served the congregation for 15 years as an aide at Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center. Additionally, she was a dedicated educator at St. Elizabeth School, Linden, NJ; Christ the King School, Hillside, NJ; St. Ann’s School, Newark, NJ; and St. Philomena School, Livingston, NJ.
Sister Gussie was predeceased by her parents, William and Mildred, her sisters Audrey O’Donnell Durett (Arthur) and Mildred Jordan (John), and her nephew Gregory Durett.
She is survived by a niece, nephews, several grand-nieces and grand-nephews, beloved colleagues and acquaintances, and her loving Sisters of Saint Dominic.
FATHER FRANCIS E. SCHILLER
A Mass of Christian burial was held for Father Francis E. Schiller on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at Saint Patrick’s Church in Jersey City, NJ.
Father Schiller died peacefully on Oct. 17, 2024, at the age of 85. Born May 4, 1939, in Union, NJ, he was a longtime leader in the Archdiocese of Newark and served in Jersey City for nearly six decades.
Ordained in 1965, Father Schiller began his ministry at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Greenville before dedicating 46 years to St. Patrick & Assumption/All Saints Parish in the Bergen-Lafayette section.
A co-founder of Patrick House, a drug treatment and rehabilitation program, and a champion for affordable housing and education, such as the Bram Hollow Condominium and Bramhall Avenue Apartments, Father Schiller helped establish the Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School.
In addition to his pastoral work, Father Schiller served as counsel at Connell Foley Law Firm and was Chair of the New Jersey State Commission on Investigations. A proud graduate of Seton Hall Prep, Seton Hall University, and Seton Hall Law School, he was an avid supporter of Pirate basketball.
Father Schiller was predeceased by his parents, Arthur and Agnes (Lennon) Schiller; his brother and sister-in-law, Arthur and Virginia Schiller; and his brother, Donald Schiller. He is survived by his brother Eugene and family; nephews and nieces; 30 great-nieces and nephews; and 39 great-great nieces and nephews.
