Obituary of Sr. Mary Carol Bilderback
Sister Mary C. Bilderback, age 77, died peacefully on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, NJ. She was born in Trenton, NJ, to Ralf and Mary Bilderback. Her early education began at Villa Victoria Academy in West Trenton and continued at Miss Fine’s School in Princeton. Sister Mary expanded her knowledge through courses at multiple schools, including the New School for Social Research, the University of Pennsylvania, and Georgian Court College (now University) before obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. She received her Master’s in Culture and Spirituality from the Sophia Center, Holy Names College in Oakland, CA. Sister Mary entered the Sisters of Mercy from St. Francis of Assisi in Brant Beach, New Jersey, in 1996.
Sister Mary was involved with many organizations throughout high school and college, including the Civil Rights Movement, Students for a Democratic Society, the Peace Movement, and Amnesty International. She went to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School for a job, addressing her interest in science. Sister Mary was employed in the Department of Human Genetics cell center, where she worked for about seven years. Before that, she offered her knowledge of tissue culture to the Biology Department of Georgian Court, where she spent some time as coordinator for the laboratories in the graduate program, and was the assistant director of the Sr. Mary Grace Burns Arboretum for more than 25 years.
Sister Mary developed a love of writing and composed many poems over the years. She wrote for local newspapers, fiction, and poetry. She was published in The Sandpaper, The Beachcomber, The Beach Haven Times, Without Halos, The National Catholic Reporter/Global Sisters Report, The MAST Journal, and other local publications and newspapers. Sister Mary also loved the Earth, and that led her to work with such Eco- Spiritual groups as the Mercy Earth Harmony Network, WaterSpirit, Religious on Water, and groups at the United Nations, where many Women Religious congregations globally promoted The Earth Charter, and The Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.
Sister Mary’s warmth and kindness left an indelible mark on everyone she met, and she spent her final years at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey, in a community that she loved. She is survived by her brothers, Peter and John.
Funeral services will be held at McAuley Hall Heath Care Center, 1633 Highway 22 West, Watchung, New Jersey, on Friday, May 9th, 2025:
Welcome Home Service: 10:00 a.m.
Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m.
The final resting place will be at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 1734 Clinton Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ.
Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy, 1645 US Highway 22, Watchung, New Jersey 07069.
