A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Chapel in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., for Sister of Charity Kathryn (Kathy) Clementz, who died Oct. 16. She was 81.
Sister Clementz lived at the convent of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station and died at Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, N.J., after a brief hospitalization.
Born in Alameda, Calif., Sister Clementz entered the Sisters of Charity in 1968 and was a member for 58 years. She earned a registered nurse diploma from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Paterson, N.J., and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J.
Sister Clementz started her nursing ministry at the former All Souls Hospital in Morristown, N.J. After formation as a Sister of Charity, she returned to St. Joseph’s, where she worked from the mid- to late-1970s. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she became involved in community health nursing, where she spent most of her nursing career.
Sister Clementz served in various facilities with the Tri-Hospital Home Health Program, historically based at Passaic Beth Israel Hospital in Passaic, N.J., as a home care and hospice nurse. She witnessed the program’s growth. While working there, she was asked to start a satellite home health care program at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J. After about four years, Sister Clementz returned to Beth Israel and worked in the hospice program.
Then, responding to a need of the congregation, Sister Clementz returned to St. Joseph’s Hospital to help start the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Program. She subsequently held various nursing positions, including visiting nurse, nurse reviewer, and intake coordinator for admissions.
Sister Clementz enjoyed working with indigent populations. Her kind heart and helpful spirit extended beyond physical medicine to include supportive services such as housing, nutrition, and clothing for patients and their families. She was held dear by many nursing colleagues and friends.
Sister Clementz is survived by the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, her niece, her nephew, her grandniece, and sisters-in-law.
A wake for Sister Clementz will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., in Holy Family Chapel in Convent Station. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m., with burial in Holy Family Cemetery after the Mass. The Mass will be livestreamed.
Please send contributions in Sister Clementz’s memory to the Sisters of Charity Office of Legacy and Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, N.J., 07960-0476.
