Sister M. Sandra Bless (formerly Sister Marian Jude) died in Camilla Hall on August 12, 2024, several days after her 87th birthday, in the 67th year of her religious life. Sister was born on August 7, 1937. Her parents were Martin Bless and Isabelle (Asper) Bless. Sandra grew up in Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harrisburg.
In her young life, Sandra experienced early learning experiences in many different schools; she attended Steel, Shimmel, Foose, and Hershey schools during her elementary years. Sandra’s high school years were varied as well, she attended Middletown School, Edison, John Harris, and Harrisburg Catholic (1953-1956).
During her time at Harrisburg Catholic (later known as Bishop McDevitt High School), Sandra kept in close touch with our IHM Sisters at Harrisburg Catholic and often expressed her desire to become an IHM Sister. Sandra did enter the Congregation on September 8, 1956, she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Marian Jude, on March 9, 1957, and she professed her First Vows on August 19, 1958.
In the fall of 1958 until the school year ended in 1964, Sister taught first grade children in St. Veronica School in Philadelphia. Sister loved these little ones, and they certainly loved her; Sister laid a firm foundation for success in school.
In the fall of 1964, not long after the completion of Camilla Hall, our residence and care facility for our infirmed Sisters, Sister Marian Jude was among several of our Sisters to immerse themselves in the study of nursing to be licensed to care for our Sisters in Camilla. Sister ministered in Camilla Hall from 1964 through 1983.
As a change of ministerial pace, Sister had the opportunity to serve as an office assistant in St. Monica School in Philadelphia from August 1983 through August 1986. While still residing at St. Monica Convent, Sister served as a Counselor with Shalom, Inc., from the fall of 1986 through August 1995. Shalom, Inc. is a nonprofit, nonsectarian counseling agency, offering therapy & school-based services.
Sister Marian Jude cared for ‘family members in need’ from the fall of 1995 until the end of August 2005 at which point Sister returned to Villa Maria House of Studies as Sister M. Sandra Bless, her baptismal name. Sister had the opportunity to spend two months of prayer and reclamation before returning to her beloved Camilla Hall where she served the Sisters professionally, lovingly and faithfully until she became the Sister in need. God rest our dear Sister M. Sandra Bless, a beautiful IHM Sister.
In addition to her IHM Community, Sister Sandra is survived by her brother Martin (Hazel), her sisters Yovonne and Gay, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister Sandra’s father Martin H. Bless and her stepmother Esther I. (Schilling) Bless predecease Sister.
Reverend Alexander Masluk celebrated Sister M. Sandra Bless’s Funeral Mass on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
HM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355