Sister Jude Mary O’Donnell (formerly Mary V.) died in Camilla Hall on November 2, 2025. Sister was in the 69th year of her religious life.
Born Mary V. O’Donnell on May 1, 1932 to her parents, Patrick and Sarah (McCormick) O’Donnell, both from Ireland, she was one of a family of six children. Mary attended elementary grades first at St. Philomena School (1939-1941) and then, Most Blessed Sacrament (1941-1946), graduating from Hallahan High School in 1950. While in the community, Sister completed her bachelor’s degree at Immaculata College in 1968 with a concentration in Theology and received an M.Ed. from the University of Nebraska in 1985.
Mary entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on February 11, 1957. She received her habit and her religious name, Sister Jude Mary, on August 15, 1957, and pronounced her First Vows on August 17, 1959.
For her first mission assignments, Sister Jude Mary was assigned as an elementary teacher, first in Annunciation School for fifth grade in 1959, then St. Clement, for grade 6, St. Barnabas for grade 7 and St. Aloysius, grade 7. At Seven Dolors School in Wyndmoor, Sister Jude Mary served as principal and taught grade 8, returning to St. Aloysius in 1978 to teach eighth grade. In 1981, she was one of three Sisters sent by the IHM community to Lincoln, Nebraska, to help the newly formed School Sisters of Christ the King establish their first school. At St. Mary in Lincoln, she served as principal for the next five years, then as principal and superior helping to establish Villa Regina School also in Lincoln. While in Nebraska, Sister Jude studied at the University of Nebraska, earning her M.Ed. in 1985. She also earned her state certificate as an administrator/supervisor in Nebraska in 2007.
Returning to Philadelphia in 1987, Sister Jude Mary served first as vice-principal of St. Martin of Tours School from 1987 through 1989. After those two years, she was transferred to Miami, FL in 1989, as coordinator of primary grades and then as vice-principal at St. Rose of Lima School. Sister Jude Mary returned to Philadelphia to St. Monica School as vice-principal in 2002. In 2005, Sister was transferred to St. Theresa in Hellertown, serving first as superior and DRE, and then as an assistant DRE. In 2011, Sister moved to Immaculata to work first as a receptionist and then as assistant in the Mission Advancement Office while living as part of the formative community for the next 12 years. In 2025, Sister discerned that she would become part of the Prayer and Presence community at Camilla Hall.
In addition to her IHM community, Sister is survived by her sister Theresa Pacetti (Robert), brother Charles J. O’Donnell and her brother-in-law William, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Sister Jude Mary was predeceased by her parents, Patrick Francis O’Donnell and Sarah Catherine (McCormick) O’Donnell, her brother Patrick O’Donnell (Elaine), her sisters Margaret Mooney, Frances Harrison (George) and her sister-in-law Mary Ellen.
Most Reverend Jerome Tauber was the main celebrant and homilist for Sister Jude Mary’s Funeral Mass on Monday, November 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Father Francis Chambers, O.S.A., Father William Trader, O.Praem., Father Douglas McKay, and Father Quan Tran concelebrated with Father Tauber.
In Sister Jude Mary’s memory a memorial donation may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355