A funeral Mass was offered Feb. 28 for Franciscan Sister Evelyn Grudza (formerly Sister Philip Marie), a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 70 years. Sister Evelyn, who ministered in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for 64 years, died at Assisi House in Aston, Pa., Feb. 25 at 92.
Sister Evelyn was born in Philadelphia. She entered the congregation in 1953 and professed her first vows in 1955. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from what is now Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg and a master’s degree in education from Towson State University.
She ministered primarily in education and pastoral ministry and was a certified chaplain.
In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Evelyn taught at St. Anthony of Padua School in Baltimore, St. Lawrence School in Woodlawn, St. Elizabeth School in Baltimore and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer School in Rosedale.
She also taught and served as principal at St. Joseph School in Fullerton and taught at Immaculate Conception School in Towson.
After 22 years in education in the archdiocese, Sister Evelyn served in parish ministry at St. Michael in Overlea. She also was the coordinator of evangelization, young adults and special projects for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Additionally, she served on the National Formation Conference out of Silver Spring.
She then spent 29 years as a chaplain, volunteer coordinator, and eventually a volunteer at what is now University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. She served for one additional year in local house ministry before moving to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement community in Aston in 2023, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.
Elsewhere, she ministered in Wilmington and Florida.
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