Obituary of Sr. Joseph Marie Germershausen

Sister Joseph Marie Germershausen, nee Julia Mildred Germershausen, Sister of Christian Charity, entered eternal life on November 25, 2022, at the age of 99 at the Motherhouse in Mendham, NJ

Mildred, as she was called, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 26, 1923, to her loving parents Joseph and Julia (Felbinger) Germershausen.  She attended Holy Cross School and Church in Baltimore, Maryland, where she met the Sisters of Christian Charity.  Upon eighth grade graduation in 1937, Mildred entered the Juniorate at the Motherhouse in Mendham, NJ, and attended Immaculata High School. On September 3, 1939, she became a candidate and received the Holy Habit on August 21, 1940.   Sister professed her First Vows on August 21, 1942, and her Final Vows on August 20, 1948.

Sister Joseph Marie received her B.S. from Seton Hall University in 1951.  She began her teaching career in elementary schools in Philadelphia and Jersey City. She then moved to the high school level in Central Catholic High School, Reading, Pa., Central Catholic High School in Kingston, Pa., West Philadelphia Girls’ High School, Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown, Pa., and Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston, Pa. In 1962, Sister received her M.S. Degree from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Sister Joseph Marie also served as Vice Principal at Morris Catholic High School, Denville, N.J. and as Principal at Bishop Neumann High School in Williamsport, Pa.

In 1994, Sister Joseph Marie assumed a new role in the Community as Retreat Coordinator at Villa Pauline Retreat Center in Mendham, and in 2001 began serving as Director of the Development Office at the Motherhouse while still on the Retreat Staff at the Villa. Sister retired to Holy Family Convent in Danville, PA. in 2016. In 2018 the Sisters moved their residence to Mallinckrodt Convent in Mendham, NJ.

Sister Joseph Marie is survived by nephews: Ferdinand, Christopher, and Kenneth; and nieces:

Barbara (Crocker), Debi (Coleman), Anita (Peck), Jackie (Whiteley), Lynn (Rutkowski), and Judy (Rutkowski).     Sister was pre-deceased by her brothers Ferdinand and Joseph, her sisters Dorothy and Naomi, and a nephew, Donald.

Visitation will be in the Motherhouse Chapel on November 28, from 1:00 PM – 4:15PM. Vespers will follow at 4:30 PM.

Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Motherhouse on Tuesday, November 29 at 11:00 AM followed by Interment in Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Joseph Marie can be made to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945.