Obituary: Sister Judith Ann Andrews, Sister Cecylia Urszula Trela, LSIC

Sister Judith Ann Andrews, 85

Sister of Jesus Our Hope Judith Andrews, age 85, entered into eternal life, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, surrounded by the prayers and loving care of her Sisters and health aides at the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope Motherhouse, Bloomsbury.

Born in York, Pa., on Sept. 18, 1938, the first child of Richard and Louise (Hombach) Andrews. Sister Judith was a proud graduate of York Catholic High School and created life-long friendships there. She also studied Religious Communication at Loyola University in New Orleans, La.

Prior to entering the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, Sister Judith worked as editor and writer for several Pennsylvania publications, including the Harrisburg diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Witness. She also worked for nine years as communications director and assistant director for the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference of Bishops as well as served on the interchurch joint ecumenical venture of the Catholic Conference and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

In 1992, Sister Judith entered the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, professing her vows three years later. Having been a woman of deep faith in God and love for the Catholic Church throughout her life, Sister Judith was eager to offer her life more totally to Christ through her religious life. She had known the Sisters for many years and was attracted to their prayer life and to the possibility of living with “no other spouse” than Jesus.

She spent her religious life deepening that relationship with Jesus and living fully the Way of Life of the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope. Sister Judith also lived with a tender love for Mary, Mother of God. She had learned to pray the Rosary early in life when accompanying her grandmother to pray in Church. Sister Judith called Mary her “close companion” in the journey of life and entrusted to her many heartfelt prayer intentions.

As a Sister of Jesus Our Hope, Sister Judith served for several years in the community apostolate at the Sheepfold Early Childhood Program at Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale. She cared for both the young children as well as their parents as she so warmly greeted them at the door or spoke with them on the phone.

Sister Judith served in several other apostolates of the Sisters within the Diocese of Metuchen including at Life Choices Center, Phillipsburg; St. Patrick Church, Belvedere; the McCarrick Care Center, Somerset; Retreat Days for Women held in Flemington, and visits to the sick of St. Peter the Apostle Parish, New Brunswick.

Sister Judith lived her life with a profound faith in God and dedicated service to the Catholic Church. She was kind and loving. She had a genuine care and concern for others and was always ready to give assistance to relieve the burdens of others. Among her many enjoyments in life were writing, reading, photography, singing and planting. She loved the beauty of God’s creation and, especially enjoyed a beautiful garden, as well as a pleasant moment with the convent dogs.

More than this, Sister Judith enjoyed time with her Sisters and with her family. She loved each one with great care and was always eager to know about the lives of her nephews and their growing families. She kept in touch with friends and prayed throughout each day for the needs of her loved ones and for all of those whom she met through her ministry. She was truly a “faithful friend” and a “sturdy shelter” for everyone in her life.

In addition to her parents, Sister Judith is predeceased by her brother, Michael Andrews.

Sister Judith is survived by her sister, Terisa and her husband, Rodney Bucks; her sister, Lorita and her husband, Terry Smeltzer; her nephew, David; nephew, Gregory and his wife, Megan and their children, Michael and Anna; and her nephew, Geoffrey and his wife, Stephanie, and their daughters, Dayla and Mira.

A Mass of Christian Burial, celebrated by Msgr. Joseph G. Celano, took place Feb.26 in Immaculate Conception Church, Annandale. Burial followed in the plot of the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, located in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Alpha.

Visit Sister Judith’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com where one can light a memorial candle and leave a message of condolence and words of comfort, as well as share stories and photographs of her life.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, 376 Bellis Road, Bloomsbury, NJ 08804.

 

Sister Cecylia Urszula Trela, LSIC, 88

Sister Ursula Trela, 88, of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, died on March 3, 2024, anointed by the rites of the Church, in the community at St. Joseph Senior Home in Woodbridge in her 70th year of religious life.

Weeks before her death, in an interview for The Catholic Spirit to celebrate her jubilee year, Sister Ursula reflected, “They have been happy years.”

Born the fourth of 11 children and baptized Cecilia, Sister Ursula was promised to the Lord as a nun, even before she was born, by her mother, who had survived a gunshot while pregnant and working in the fields.

Her mother rejoiced when Sister Ursula entered the Motherhouse of the Congregation in 1954 in Poland. After her formation she worked with preschool and children with special needs, trained and served as a catechist and bookkeeper.

In 1972 Sister Ursula came to serve in the United States. Following studies in the English language, she continued her education, graduated in elementary education and qualified in nursing home administration and preschool education.

She served as a kindergarten teacher in schools in New Jersey and Massachusetts, as well as an administrator in St. Mary’s Home, Cherry Hill. She participated in establishing (1980-1981) the Congregation’s St. Joseph Senior Residence (now Assisted Living) and St. Joseph Nursing Home in Woodbridge where she served as administrator from 1990-2014, always mindful of the words of her Order’s founder, Blessed Edmund Bojanowksi: “The love of Christ impels us to make this world more Godlike and more humane, and to make life more bearable.”

The Congregation’s Mother Elizabeth Lopatka recalled that Sister Ursula devotedly visited and served the residents and prayed with them, almost until the end. The community cherishes the memory of Sister Ursula as a most prayerful, dedicated religious with great love of God, her community and family, the children and the elderly, plus her “green thumb” with flowers and vegetables.

A Mass of Christian Burial took place March 7 in the Chapel of St. Joseph Assisted Living with interment following in St. Joseph Cemetery, Chews Landing.

Contributions in Sister Ursula’s memory may be made to the Little Servant Sisters, Provincialate, 1000 Cropwell Road, Cherry Hill.