Her lively sense of humor brightened the days of others, and her gifted hands blessed many babies with their first sweater and hat.

Sister Miriam Jude (Mary Julia) was born April 1, 1933, in Woodside, New York. She was one of four children, one daughter and three sons of Thomas and Mary Noonan Trank.

Mary attended Holy Name Elementary and Cathedral High School, both in Manhattan, and worked for a year and a half before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on February 2, 1952.

Sister Jude earned a BA in History from the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an MA in History from Manhattan College, and Permanent Certification in Social Studies from New York State.

Sister Jude dedicated 57 years of active ministry to the field of education. Her first 27 years in elementary education were served at Saint Joseph in Yonkers, Ascension in Manhattan, Visitation and Saint Barnabas, both in the Bronx, and Blessed Sacrament and Saint Mary, both in Staten Island.

Sister Jude remained in Staten Island for the next 30 years at Saint Joseph by-the-Sea High School as a teacher of Social Studies for 19 years. She also served in the Guidance and Finance offices and as Administrative Assistant and later Director for Student Activities.

In 2012, Sister Jude retired with other Sisters of Charity at Mount Saint Vincent Convent. She quickly became engaged in Convent activities by relieving at the reception desk, crocheting baby sets and blankets for the Convent’s annual sale and joining enthusiastically in the weekly bingo games. During these years she also graciously volunteered her services at Le Gras Hall.

In 2019, she moved from the Convent to join other Sisters of Charity living in the Kittay Senior Apartments of The New Jewish Home in the Bronx. It is here she died on April 15, 2022, in her seventy-first year of commitment as a Sister of Charity of New York.

We remember Sister Jude as a listener with a friendly and open personality who added to the community life of the sisters. She could offer her opinions in discussions while respecting different views expressed by others. Her lively sense of humor brightened the days of others, and her gifted hands blessed many babies with their first sweater and hat.

Sister Jude, in life’s joys and journeys, blessings and bruises you remained firm in your trust of the promises made by a faithful God. With your “… hope now rich with immortality …” (Wisdom 3:4), we rejoice as you enter the unending love and mercy of God. Rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Charity of New York.