Sister Monica Jacques, age 95, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, at  McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, New Jersey. Born in Perth Amboy to  August and Helen Jacques, she was one of two children. Growing up near St. Mary  Church, Monica often assisted the Sisters of Mercy and attended St. Mary elementary  and high school, both staffed by the order. 

After graduating high school, Monica entered the Sisters of Mercy. She received the  name Sister Mary Ronald upon professing her vows but later returned to her baptismal  name following the Second Vatican Council. She earned a bachelor’s degree in  mathematics from Georgian Court College (now University) and a master’s in physics  from the University of Wisconsin, continuing studies in social work at the University of  Minnesota and Rutgers University. 

Her teaching career began at Immaculate Conception School in Camden, followed by  assignments in South Amboy and Camden Catholic High School. She later served as  principal at St. Mary High, her alma mater, and concluded her teaching at Red Bank  Catholic. 

Sister Monica then transitioned to social service at the House of Mercy in Bridgeton and  parish ministry in Hightstown and South Amboy. In 1989, she joined the support staff at  Georgian Court University and later directed religious education at St. Bernadette Parish  in Northfield. Her final ministry was at St. John Vianney Parish, Colonia. She spent her  

last years at McAuley Hall among a beloved community. 

Sister Monica is predeceased by her beloved brother, John Jacques (Jack) and his wife  Claire. She is survived by her loving and attentive nieces and nephews Susan (Paul)  Swanson, John (Dyann) Jacques, Jr, Joni (Michael) Sheerer, and Robert (Cynthia)  Jacques, and her eleven grands and nine great grands. 

Sister Monica was a cheerful, positive person with a good sense of humor. She enjoyed  life. Monica adored her brother Jack and cherished his children and their families. She  considered her vocation as a Sister of Mercy to be a blessing and lived it in a spirit of  generosity and gratitude. Her smile and her laughter will be greatly missed. 

Services will be held at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, 1633 US 22 West, Watchung,  NJ, on December 17, 2025: 

Welcome Home Service: 10:00 a.m. 

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m. 

Burial will follow at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield. 

Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy, 1645 US 22 West, Watchung, NJ