Obituary of Sr. Maria Assumpta

Sister Maria Assumpta Shurer, nee Verna Susanna Shurer, Sister of Christian Charity, entered eternal life the morning of February 22, 2023, at the Motherhouse in Mendham, NJ.  Sister was 90 years old.

Verna was born in Williamsport, Pa, on September 29, 1932, to Hiram and Agnes (Lorsong) Shurer.  Verna was baptized, received her First Communion and was confirmed at St. Boniface Church.  She attended St. Boniface School and St. Mary’s High School, both staffed by the Sisters of Christian Charity, After high school graduation, Verna, accepted a position at Lycoming Avco Corporation as a typist. Verna’s desire for religious life remained strong since grammar school and on September 3, 1950, she entered as a postulant at Mendham, NJ. and received the Holy Habit on August 21, 1951. On August 21, 1953, Sister Maria Assumpta professed First Vows, and on August 20, 1959, she professed her Final Vows.

Sister’s advanced studies took her to Seton Hall University where she received her B.S. in Education in 1961, her M.A. in Education in 1968, and in 1976 Sister received an M. A. in Theology from Villanova University.  Sister Maria Assumpta taught in St. Patrick’s School, Chatham, NJ, and West Philadelphia Catholic Girl’s High School. She served as superior and/or principal in St. Cecilia School, Rockaway, NJ, Immaculate Conception School, Bronx, NY, and St. Joseph School, Mendham, NJ.

   The call to community leadership came in 1986 when Sister became a Provincial Councilor, and from 1991-1997 Sister served as Provincial Superior of the Eastern Province of Sisters of Christian Charity and then as Provincial treasurer until 2011 and as Administrative Assistant until her retirement in 2018.

Sister Maria Assumpta is predeceased by her sister, Sister Mary Agnes Shurer, SCC and brothers, Rev. Ralph Shurer, O.S.A., Joseph Shurer, and Clarence Shurer (and his wife Barbara), and nephew, Daniel.  Sister is survived by her sister, Dorothy Beckman, of Williamsport, and nieces and nephews: Cecelia and Kenny Resh, Verna and Bill Pittenger, Elaine Shurer and Cynthia Shurer, Stephen and Jessica Beckman, Ronald and Crystal Beckman, Kenneth and Pam Shurer, Tom and Christine Shurer, and Carl and Joannette Shurer.

          Visitation will be on Friday, February 24, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. followed by Vespers at 4:30.  The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Motherhouse on Saturday, February 25, at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment in the Motherhouse cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Sister Maria Assumpta to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Rd. Mendham, NJ  07945.

Funeral arrangements are handled by Bailey Funeral Home of Mendham, NJ.