Sister Marie John Jimenez (Thelma Judith) was born February 4, 1932 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, one of two daughters of Judith Mora and René Jimenez. Thelma attended Saint Catherine of Genoa Elementary School and Cathedral High School, both in Manhattan. She attended Fordham University for one year and worked for a year before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1951. Sister John earned a BA in Spanish from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an MA in Spanish from Hunter College, and a Doctor of Arts in Spanish from Catholic University of America. She also earned Certification for teaching Spanish from New York State.
Sister John’s forty-three years of teaching ministry spanned elementary school through college. She began at Saint Athanasius in the Bronx and then moved to Saint Stephen in Manhattan for elementary education. She followed this with eight years of teaching Spanish in high school at Blessed Sacrament, Manhattan, Saint Joseph by the Sea, Staten Island, and Cardinal Spellman, Bronx. The next twenty-eight years were devoted to teaching Spanish at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. After retiring from teaching, Sister John continued her services in the Business Office and the Facilities Management Department of the College. She later volunteered as a translator at the Family Health Center of Saint Joseph Medical Center, Yonkers, and offered services to the retired sisters in Mount Saint Vincent Convent. When her health declined, she joined the sisters in the retirement community at Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
Sister John cherished her years as part of the community of the College of Mount Saint Vincent and devoted many hours of outstanding work to add to the beauty of the grounds. She turned various sections and pockets into colorful gardens through her “Pennies for Petals” collections, and her perennial plantings still return each year. She created one special section on the campus near the grotto and named it “Lily’s Garden” in honor of her sister who died October 1998.
We rejoice with Sister John now as she is welcomed by our loving God who greets her, “Welcome home, my good and faithful servant.”
Date of Death
August 10, 2018
Age
86
Wake
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
6301 Riverdale Ave., Bronx, NY 10471
718.601.5370
Monday, August 13, 2018
2:00 – 6:30 pm
Prayer Service: 4:30 pm
Mass of Resurrection
Mount Saint Vincent Convent Assembly Room
Tuesday, August 14, 2018, 10:00 am
Burial
St. Joseph Cemetery
Yonkers, NY
Missions
Archdiocese of New York
- St. Athanasius, Bronx
1954–56, Teacher - St. Stephen, Manhattan
1956–63, Teacher - Blessed Sacrament HS, Manhattan
1963–65, Teacher, Spanish - St. Joseph by-the-Sea HS, Staten Island
1965–66, Teacher, Spanish - Cardinal Spellman HS, Bronx
1966–71, Teacher, Spanish - College of Mount Saint Vincent, Bronx
1971–99, Assoc. Professor of Spanish
1999–2001, Business Services Assist.
2001–03, Volunteer, Facilities Management Dept. - St. Joseph Family Health Center, Yonkers
Mount Saint Vincent Convent, Bronx
2003–17, Volunteer
This is a beautiful tribute to a most outstanding educator and person of great holiness. It must have been wonderful to have been taught Spanish by Sr. Marie John. May she rest in peace with Our Dear Lord.
Her “Bloomin’ Sales”, combined with the “Pennies for Petals” campaign, raised tens of thousands of dollars over the years. It all went to the beautification and maintenance of the grounds at MSV. (I know because my office did the counting and accounting.)
Sister John used to have me shake down the guys at Seton to get their loose change for Pennies for Petals. She also used her charm to get me to water the rock garden each evening after she planted it. Small price to pay. If I had to choose one person at the Mount who made all the difference in me getting through the tough times in college (and ultimately pushing me to study abroad in junior year), it would be she. She was a gem.
It is with great sadness that I heard that Sister Marie John has passed away. I knew her well from the many years I worked at the Mount. We had so many interesting conversations about her gardening fund. She would always remind me that the money she saved would go to beautifying the campus. She also made sure that she got interest on her funds. Her passing is a tragic loss. Sister was truly a wonderful person.
I never had Sister John as a teacher, but she was the nun-in-charge the two years I dormed at Spellman. I helped short-sheet her bed once, She was infinitely patient. A classy elegant lady, always.
I remember her flea Market or is it the Blooming Sale that Maureen Russell said. One of my favorite activity at the Mount. Have many fond memories of Sister John, like when she came and visit me and Mom when we lived in Harrison. I enjoyed her sitting and talking with us secretaries at lunch. Me teasing her about having “avoided” the SC’s through Grade school and high School. She would come back and say Yeah, but we got you now! Rest in peace Sister John, it was a pleasure and an Honor to know you as a colleague and on a personal level. God speed on your journey home.
Sr. John was truly an exceptional woman of faith, who touched all that knew her. I was privileged to have worked with her at The Mount, where she treated me with dignity and respect and love. I will forever be grateful to have known her.
Yes, Jim she surely did. Treated everyone that way.
I was fortunate to have had Sr. John as my Spanish teacher at the Mount.
Great educator, with a sense of humor!
She will be missed!
May she rest in Peace!
God rest her soul..and Angel’s guided her on her heavenly journey.
I had SISTER for Spanish at CMSV back in the 80’s and maintained correspondence and phone calls through the years.
Sisters wit was awesome..and her love for students was remarkable..
Heaven has been enriched with this special woman of God..