Obituary of Sr. Mary Ancilla Lucas

Sister Mary Ancilla Lucas Sister of Mercy Sister Ancilla, 93, died peacefully on Thursday, February 4, 2016, at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey. Sister Ancilla was the daughter of Thomas and Anne Lucas, born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey in 1923. She grew up and received her elementary and secondary education in Trenton. She made her decision to enter the Sisters of Mercy in 1940. She completed her education with degrees from Georgian Court College (now University) in Lakewood, New Jersey and Villanova University in biology and secondary school science. Sister's first assignment was to St. Elizabeth School in Bernardsville, New Jersey, where she taught for one year before moving on to St. Ann School in Keansburg, Immaculate Conception Grammar School in Camden and St. Mary Elementary School in South Amboy. In 1952 she began teaching secondary science courses first at Holy Spirit High School, at that time in Atlantic City; then at Cathedral High School in Trenton and St. Pius X High School in Piscataway. With characteristic energy, enthusiasm and dedication and 27 years of teaching behind her, Sister Ancilla was ready for a new challenge. She had nurtured a longing for the home health care apostolate. In 1979 she learned that Mount Carmel Guild in Trenton was looking for a home health aide to assist a team of one registered nurse and two licensed practical nurses. She applied, was accepted and moved to Trenton where she lived and worked until 1984. A health care ministry was initiated that year in St. Paul Parish in Princeton and Sister moved to Princeton and continued her work at the Guild. She explained that the purpose of her ministry was to improve the quality of life for the home-bound, especially those who were elderly, sick and poor and not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. Working with a team she provided, at no cost, services including transportation to and from medical appointments, food shopping and household chores. From her tiny office in the church basement, Sister helped to fill the gaps. The director of the Senior Resource Center, Jocelyn Helm, who often made referrals to Sister Ancilla, called her an 'angel of mercy.' "We'd call her and she'd come . . . always willing to do anything you asked," she told an interviewer from Town Topics in Princeton in 1990. Until 2001, Sister continued the work of caring for the elderly. She then retired to Mount St. Mary in Watchung where she resided first in Gabriel Hall and then at McAuley Hall Health Care Center. Sister Ancilla is survived by her niece, Carol Schmidt of Hilton Head, SCa. Visitation will take place at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, 1633 US Highway 22 West, Watchung, NJ Wake: Monday, February 8, 2016, from 9:30 – 11:00 AM Welcome Home: 9:45 AM Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 AM Burial will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Princeton, NJ Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community 1645 Highway 22 West, Watchung, NJ 07069