Obituary of Sr. Mary Edwina Rudolph

Sister Mary Edwina, age 87, died peacefully at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey, on April 13, 2020. The daughter of Edwin and Mary Rudolph, she was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey and raised in Woodbridge. Her education began at St. James School and continued at St. Mary High School in Perth Amboy, both schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. The seeds of her religious vocation were sown early under the influence of the sisters whom she found outstanding teachers who were also kind, caring and cheerful. With reluctant support from her family and encouragement from her mentor, Sister Mary Raphael, she entered the community in 1952. Gifted with a playful spirit and blessed to be in a group of young women of similar inclination, her novitiate years were colorful. Along with fun, there were also higher education and ministry experiences. She earned degrees in Latin from Georgian Court College (now University) and in religious education from LaSalle College (now University) in Philadelphia. Ministry assignments were frequent as she moved from St. John School in Collingswood, to Star of the Sea School in Atlantic City and St. John School in Paulsboro in the Camden Diocese. She served at Sacred Heart School in South Plainfield and St. Mary High School in Perth Amboy in the Metuchen Diocese. She was assigned to Cathedral High School in Trenton for three years before returning to St. Mary's. Moving temporarily from education, Edwina served for three years in the Trenton Diocesan Office as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program coordinator in Trenton Diocese. After four years as a teacher at Notre Dame High School, and a year in pastoral ministry in Freehold, Edwina was assigned to the staff at Georgian Court College. There she was the dean of student services for many years ending her service at the University in 2000 when she moved Gabriel Hall at Mount St. Mary in Watchung. As a faithful daughter of Catherine McAuley, she emulated so many of her virtues but none so faithfully as the foundress' love of playfulness and humor. She is survived by her cousins Joseph and Timothy Egan and by many Sisters of Mercy. Funeral arrangements will be private. A Memorial Mass will be said at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic Community, 1645 US Highway 22 West, Watchung, NJ 07069.