Obituary of Sister Mary Thomas Blank

Sister of Christian Charity Mary Thomas Blank passed away on September 14, 2023, at Mallinckrodt Convent, Mendham, New Jersey.

Kathryn Mary Blank was born in Kingston, Pennsylvania, on April 11, 1926 to Joseph and Kathryn (Konoitz) Blank. Kathryn entered the Sisters of Christian Charity on July 16, 1944 in Mendham and began her Novitiate on August 21, 1945, receiving the name Sister Mary Thomas. She professed her First Vows on August 21, 1947, and her Perpetual Vows on August 20, 1953.

Sister Mary Thomas was a graduate of St. Nicholas School and St. Nicholas High School, Wilkes-Barre.  She earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Education from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey.

During her 78 years as a Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Mary Thomas served in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as principal, teacher, guidance counselor, director of guidance, convent superior, director of activities and support staff of the retreat ministry. Her ministry in New Jersey included: Elizabeth (St. Michael); Chatham (St. Patrick); Denville (Morris Catholic High School); and Mendham (Motherhouse and Villa Pauline Retreat House).  Her ministry in Pennsylvania included: Williamsport (St. Boniface High School, Bishop Neumann High School and Immaculate Conception Parish); Wilkes-Barre (St. Nicholas); Philadelphia (St. Maria Goretti High School); Reading (Central Catholic High School); McSherrystown (Delone Catholic High School); Hazleton (Bishop Hafey High School); Camp Hill (Holy Spirit Hospital); Danville (Holy Family Convent); and Allentown (Our Lady Help of Christians Parish).  

In 1993, Sister Mary Thomas became certified as a Retirement Planning Specialist for Religious and in 1996, she was appointed Retirement/Transitions Coordinator for the Eastern Province of the Sisters of Christian Charity.

In 2018, she was among the Sisters who moved to the new Motherhouse in Mendham, where she participated in a ministry of prayer and presence until the time of her death. 

Sister Mary Thomas is survived by the Sisters of Christian Charity, by her sister, Marie Trudeau, and Marie’s husband, Eugene, and by her extended family of beloved nephews, nieces and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Joseph M. Blank.

Visitation will be held in the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at the Motherhouse in Mendham on Sunday, September 17, 2023, from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. with Vespers being prayed at 4:30 p.m.  The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Chapel of Mary Immaculate on Monday, September 18 at 11:00 a.m., and will be livestreamed at sccus.org. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery on the grounds of the Motherhouse.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Sister Mary Thomas Blank to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945, or at sccus.org/donate.