Sister Josita Marks, SCC

Sister of Christian Charity Josita Marks, age 78, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Mallinckrodt Convent, Mendham, NJ, during the 60 th year of her religious life. Susan Lynnette Marks, the oldest of three daughters and two sons of Lieutenant Joseph L. and Helene M. (LaForce) Marks, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on July 1, 1947. Her father’s service in the United States Navy made it necessary for the family to move often. As a result, Susan attended Mount Calvary School in Washington, D.C., St. John’s School in Pensacola, Florida, and St. Margaret Mary School in Winter Park, Florida, graduating in 1961. It was at St. Margaret Mary School where Susan met the Sisters of Christian Charity.

Susan attended Immaculata High School in Mendham, graduating in 1965. That same year, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity, and was invested as a Sister the following year, on August 21, 1966, receiving the religious name Sister Josita. Sheprofessed her First Vows on August 21, 1968, and her Perpetual Vows on August 15,1975.

Sister Josita received an Associate in Arts from Assumption College for Sisters, Mendham, a Bachelor of Arts from Marillac College, St. Louis, Missouri, and a Master of Arts from Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania. Additionally, she received a Certificate in Spirituality from Mercy Center, Madison, Connecticut.

Sister Josita’s ministry as a grade school teacher encompassed Immaculate Conception, Bronx, NY; Holy Family, Florham Park, NJ; St. Michael, Elizabeth, NJ; and St. Jude, Mountain Top, PA. She was also the Director of Religious Education at Holy Family Parish, Florham Park and St. Mary Parish, Wharton, NJ. Her last five years in grade school education ministry were spent as Principal of Holy Family School, Florham Park. She is remembered fondly by the families she served so lovingly in these ministries.

In 1997, Sister Josita answered God’s call to full-time Spiritual Direction and Retreat Ministry at Villa Pauline, Mendham. Her gentle, compassionate nature and her openness to walking deep spiritual journeys with others made her a much sought-after director of retreats, days and evenings of reflection and many other spirituality days with Sisters and others.

In 2002, Sister became a member of the staff of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. During that time, she was part of an immersion experience with the poor in El Salvador. In 2005, Sister was able to return to El Salvador to commemorate the 25 th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. Remarking about the people of El Salvador, Sister noted that she found hope and gratitude among that country’s poorest people: “I met adults and children without shoes. Despite their circumstances, they are people of thanksgiving.” For many years, Sister Josita shared the stories of Archbishop Romero and the four American missionaries – Sisters Maura Clarke, Ita Ford and Dorothy Kazel and laywoman Jean Donovan – who had been martyred in El Salvador in 1980.

Over time, the depth of Celtic spirituality became a part of Sister Josita’s life. In an interview years ago, Sister explained, “Celtic spirituality is listening for the heartbeat of God, experiencing God in self, others, and nature. God continues to reveal truth to us, but we need to listen. If you want to listen, you have to find a place for silence.” To broaden opportunities for spiritual seekers to find a place for silence, Sister Josita was among a group of Sisters of Christian Charity who envisioned the Quellen Spiritual Center into reality in Mendham in 2004. She is also remembered for proposing the name “Quellen” for the center, tying together the German word, “Quellen” (meaning “fountains,” “springs,” or “sources”) with the German roots of the Sisters of Christian Charity and its long-standing tradition of assisting Sisters and others to deepen their spirituality. In 2007, Sister Josita was among the group of Sisters who founded the

Quellen Spiritual Direction Formation Program, a three-year program to train people to accompany others on their spiritual journeys.

Sister Josita was also called upon to serve in Congregational leadership. In 2001, she was elected as a delegate to the General Chapter held in Paderborn, Germany. From 2003 to 2011, she served as a Provincial Councilor in Mendham.

In 2011, Sister returned to full-time retreat ministry in Mendham and Greensboro. Then in 2016, she became a Pastoral Associate at St. Magdalen de Pazzi Parish in Flemington, NJ. The opening of the new Motherhouse in Mendham in 2018 necessitated the merging of the retreat and spirituality ministries of Quellen Spiritual Center and Villa Pauline into one site. Because of Sister Josita’s expertise in retreat ministry, she was called back to Mendham to assist with this merger. In 2022, Sister Josita entered her final ministry of prayer and presence when she moved to thehealthcare center of the Motherhouse, where she resided until her death.

Sister Josita is survived by the Sisters of Christian Charity, her sister and brother-in-law, Michele and Jim Burton, her brothers, Preston and Peter, and her nieces and nephews, Meagan, Mark, Noah, Erika, Wilson, Jennifer, Lisa and Sarah. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Martha.

Visitation will be held in the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at the Motherhouse in Mendham on Wednesday, March 25 at 1:30 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 Thursday, March 26 at 10:30 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 may be made in memory of Sister Josita Marks to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945, or at sccus.org.