A funeral Mass was celebrated on June 6 in the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at the motherhouse of the Sisters of Christian Charity in Mendham for Sister Martina Reuther, who died on June 2, 2024, in Mallinckrodt Convent. She was 98.
Born in Scranton, Pa., Sister Reuther entered the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1941; began her novitiate in 1942, receiving the name Sister Martina; professed her first vows in 1944; and professed her perpetual vows in 1950.
During 82 years of religious life, Sister Reuther used her culinary expertise and organizational skills in kitchens in Sisters of Christian Charity convents in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. In New Jersey, she served in Elizabeth, Chatham, and Mendham. Sister Reuther assisted in the kitchen during the Sisters of Christian Charity’s General Chapter in Rome, Italy, in 1977.
Sister Reuther also trained the next generation of community chefs. She taught others baking and even provided step-by-step directions in a video, “Baking Secrets for an Apple Pie,” used as a fundraiser.
During her 30 years at Holy Family Convent in Danville, Pa., Sister Reuther trained therapy dogs and visited local hospitals with her certified therapy dogs, Freddy and JoJo. She received an award from Therapy Dogs International for her work. She also trained watchdogs in several convents.
In 2018, Sister Reuther retired to the motherhouse in Mendham, where continued to bake for the sisters and participated in a ministry of prayer and presence until her death.
Sister Reuther is survived by the Sisters of Christian Charity; her nieces and nephew, Anne, Cathy, Mary Rose, Ann, Gertrude, and James; grandnieces, grandnephews, and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Anna; her brothers John, Joseph, Eugene, Charles, Donald, and James; and her sisters, Anna and Mary.
Memorial donations in Sister Reuther’s name can be made to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Rd., Mendham, N.J., 07945, or at sccus.org/donate
