A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. in Holy Family Chapel in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J., for Sister Mary Ellen Verdon, Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth, who died on Aug. 1 at McAuley Hall Health Care Center in Watchung, N.J. She was 89.
Sister Verdon, formerly Sister Michael Julia, was born in Jersey City, N.J., to Michael and Julia (Lynch) Verdon. She had brothers, Thomas and John. She entered the Sisters of Charity in 1954 and was a member for 71 years.
She earned an RN degree in nursing from St. Raphael School of Nursing in New Haven, Conn., a BSN degree in nursing from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and an MSN degree in nursing from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.
Sister Verdon was a nurse at both the Hospital of St. Raphael in Connecticut and in Caranavi, Bolivia, where she lived with and served the poor of the area for 11 years. She also was nursing services director at St. Anne Villa in Convent Station and a registered nurse/clinical specialist at Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove, N.J., for 19 years.
She also spent a year at the Carmelite Cloister in Tromsa, Norway.
Sister Verdon is survived by the Sisters of Charity; her sister-in-law, Helen Verdon; nieces and nephews; and many grand nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Thomas and his wife, Patricia, and John; and nephews, Thomas Verdon Jr. and Paul Verdon.
A wake for Sister Verdon will be held on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in Holy Family Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. with burial in Holy Family Cemetery following the Mass, which will be livestreamed.
Please mail contributions in Sister Verdon’s name to the Sisters of Charity Office of Legacy & Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, N.J. 07961-0476.
