Obituary of Sr. Mary Pauline Kuntne
Sister Mary Pauline Kuntne, age 93, died peacefully on April 28, 2024, at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, NJ. She was born in South Amboy, NJ, to Maximilian and Bertha Kuntne and grew up in Parlin. She attended St. Mary High School in South Amboy and responded to a call to religious life after graduation. Among her many gifts was musical ability and her first two degrees from Georgian Court College, now University, and Catholic University of America in Washington, DC were in music and music education. She taught at St. Paul School in Princeton for two years before being assigned to Camden Catholic High School. Under her guidance, the music department grew steadily in instrumental, vocal, and theatrical excellence in over a period of 20 years. Concerts and theatrical productions were events not to be missed by family and friends of the many students who vied to be included in the casts, crews, or ensembles. The Irish Marching Band performed not only at school events but competed for prizes in the Philadelphia area. The music curriculum was cited by Middle States evaluators as one of the best they had seen. The reputation of Camden Catholic was, during her tenure, raised to new heights as productions like “My Fair Lady” and “Sound of Music” ran for two weeks to full houses.
Sister Pauline had another calling, too, and when she left Camden Catholic in 1970 she pursued another dream – nursing. With a degree in nursing and experience as a primary nurse at Atlantic City Medical Center, she advanced in oncology and surgery before accepting a position at Mount Carmel Hospital in Paterson. She served as a charge nurse for the Straight and Narrow program before assuming the position of Director of Health Services at Emmaus House in Perth Amboy. In 1985 she was named Director of Prevention Services, Council on Alcoholism in Passaic, and continued in that role for 26 years, directing multiple programs dedicated to education and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse.
In very gradual retirement, she continued to serve in supportive roles, her experience, good judgment, and straight talk influencing the work of prevention services well into retirement. Her legacy to each ministry to which she gave her utmost energy, talent, and passion will be remembered by those who knew her and those who knew only her reputation.
She is predeceased by her brother, Donald, and survived by her sisters, Maxine of Midlothian, VA, and Paulette Schaffer of Phillipsburg.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 AM, on May 3, 2024, at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, 1633 US Highway 22, Watchung, NJ.
The burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 6, 2024, at Whiting Memorial Park, 600 County Road 530, Whiting, NJ.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 1645 US Highway 22, Watchung, NJ 07069.
