Obituaries for April 2025

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

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.

Father Kevin P. Ashe

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 5 at Sacred Heart Church in Bay Head, New Jersey, for Reverend Kevin P. Ashe. He died, surrounded by loved ones, on March 9, 2025. Father Ashe was 87 years old.

A graduate of Seton Hall University and Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, Father Ashe began his ministry in 1963. He served in parishes throughout the state.

While at the Little Flower parish in Berkeley Heights, Father Ashe was named the Jaycee Man of the Year and was a member of the Union County Children’s Shelter. At St. Paul’s Greenville in Jersey City, Father Ashe established a housing resource center (Greenville House) for those in need and a municipal housing court. During that time, he also earned an associate’s degree in urban studies from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City. As pastor of Holy Family Church in Union City, he established the Park Performing Arts Center and served as chaplain to the Police and Fire Departments.

Father Ashe received a Lifetime Achievement Award for establishing the Park Performing Arts Center and America’s longest-running production of the Passion Play, which was named one of the top 100 tours by the American Bus Association. He also established the Northeast Folk Art Center and subsequently was given the prestigious Governor’s Tourism Award.

Upon retiring as executive director of the park, Father Ashe turned his time and attention to the economically disadvantaged. He became a founding member of Seeds of Service in Brick, which advocates and distributes food, clothing, and household items to the sick, the poor, and the needy. He also served on the NJ Board of America’s Gleaned Seafood, which takes bycatch and distributes it to the hungry.

An avid outdoorsman, Father Ashe also served on Brick Open Space Savers, a citizens’ advisory group that evaluates properties for potential acquisition to support open space, conservation, and recreation.

Father Ashe was predeceased by his father, Thomas, and mother, Catherine nee’ Malloy and his sister Catherine. He is survived by many loving cousins here and in Ireland.

Father Thomas LaRussa, S.D.V.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 3 at the Vocationist Fathers’ Chapel in Florham Park, New Jersey, for Father Thomas LaRussa. S.D.V.  He died on March 26 in Newport, Vermont at the age of 61.

Father LaRussa was born in Fremont, California in 1963, to the late Angelo Mark LaRussa and Georgina (Williams) LaRussa. He dedicated his life to the service of God and the Church, exemplifying a profound commitment to his faith and community.

Father LaRussa made his First Religious Profession of Vows in the Society of Divine Vocations (Vocationists) in 2011 and made his Perpetual Vows in 2014. He earned a Master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology in South Orange in 2017. He was ordained as a deacon at St. Nicholas Parish in Palisades Park in 2017 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2019.

Father LaRussa served as Associate Pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Palisades Park from 2019 to 2020 and then as Parochial Vicar at Mater Dei Parish in Newport, Vermont, from 2020 until his passing.

He is survived by his sister Angela (LaRussa) Javete, and his brother JP LaRussa.

Sister Mary Bernadette Murphy, SC

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 16 in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, New Jersey, for Sister Mary Bernadette Murphy.  She died on April 10 at Complete Care at St. Vincent’s in Cedar Grove. Sister Mary Bernadette was 94.

Born in Newark, she was the daughter of Mary Agnes (Connors) and Joseph V. Murphy. Sister Mary Bernadette entered the Sisters of Charity in 1948 and was a member of the congregation for 77 years.

Sister Mary Bernadette graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown with a B. S. degree in Elementary Education. She also received certification as a Teacher-Librarian from Saint Elizabeth’s.

Dedicated to the education of children, Sister Mary Bernadette ministered as an educator in New Jersey for nearly 60 years. She was a teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes School in West Orange, Saint Francis School in Ridgefield Park, Saint Aloysius School in Newark, and St. John School in Orange. After retiring from full-time teaching in 2010, she served as a teaching assistant. Sister Mary Bernadette served 26 years at Saint Aloysius and 25 years at Saint John.

She later provided loving, compassionate service to infirm Sisters of Charity until she moved to Complete Care at Saint Vincent’s in 2024, where she resided until her death.

Sister Mary Bernadette dearly loved her large, extended family as well as her students. She was gentle, kind, compassionate, and generous to all in need. A good listener, she enjoyed sharing fond memories and laughter with family and friends.

Sister Mary Bernadette was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Dorothy Soley and Rita Feeney, her brother Father Joseph Murphy, her sister-in-law, Marie Murphy, her brothers-in-law, Joseph Valvano, Jack Soley, and Thomas Feeney. She is survived by her sisters Kathleen Murphy, Eleanor Valvano, and Joan Davie, her brother John Murphy, and her brother-in-law, William Davie. She is also survived by many devoted nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and a great-grandniece and great-grandnephew.

Sister Judith Ann Rudolph, OP

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 1 at Saint Aloysius Church in Caldwell, New Jersey, for Sister Judith Ann Rudolph, OP.  A devoted member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Caldwell for 59 years, she died March 24 at Saint Catherine of Siena Healthcare Center in Caldwell. Sister Judith Ann was 83.

Born in New York City, she was the daughter of George W. and Teresa M. (Glaab) Rudolph. Sister Judith Ann entered the Sisters of Saint Dominic in 1966, making her final profession on October 10, 1972.

A woman of prayer, a gifted teacher, and a dedicated administrator, Sister Judith Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in mathematics from Caldwell University, a master’s degree in secondary school science from Villanova University, and a science education certification from the State of New Jersey, issued through Caldwell University.

She began her teaching career with fourth-grade students at St. Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove, later teaching science and chemistry at St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City, Mt. St. Dominic Academy in Caldwell, St. Catherine of Siena School in Cedar Grove, and Caldwell University. She transitioned into academic administration, first in school scheduling and later as a registrar at Caldwell University, a role she held for 21 years.

Beyond education, Sister Judith Ann served as resident manager at Marian Manor in Caldwell, a hospice volunteer at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, and as an archivist at Caldwell University. She was also an assistant archivist for the Sisters of Saint Dominic for eight years.

A talented cantor, Sister Judith Ann shared her voice at community events and liturgies. She will be remembered for her deep faith, gentleness, and dedication to the mission of the Sisters of Saint Dominic.

Sister Judith Ann was predeceased by her parents, George and Teresa. She is survived by her brother, Stephen Rudolph, sister-in-law, Mary, nephews Stephen Rudolph Jr. and Sean Rudolph, and her cousins.