Sr. Judith Mary Connelly, OSF

Tacoma, WA-Sister Jude Connelly, OSF, 83, died in Franciscan Hospice House on Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 59 years. Sister. Jude was born in San Francisco, California. Her family moved to Washington where she was a member of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish, Tacoma, and a graduate of Fife High School, Fife.

She entered the congregation in 1962 and professed her first vows in 1965. She earned a BSN from the University of Oregon and an MA in Hospital Administration from Xavier University. She also earned a Clinical Certification in Pastoral Education from the Interfaith Ministries of Hawaii. She ministered primarily in healthcare as a Nurse, Administrator and Chaplain

Sister Jude ministered for 10 years in the Baker Diocese of Oregon. She worked as a nurse in St. Joseph Hospital, LaGrande; St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Baker; and St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton.

In the Archdiocese of Seattle, Sister Jude served for a total of 40 years. She ministered as nurse and educator at St. Joseph Hospital, Tacoma; she served in administration at St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood and St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. For 18 years, Sister Jude served as administrator of St. Ann Convent, the congregation's retirement community, in Tacoma. She also served as a volunteer at St. Francis House in Puyallup and St Leo's Food Connection, Tacoma.

All services will be held at St. Leo Catholic Church, 710 S 13th St, Tacoma, WA 98405, A prayer vigil and sharing on April 18th at 6:00pm, Mass of Christian Burial on April 19th at 12:10pm, her Internment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Tacoma at 3:30pm. Sister Jude is survived by her niece Kelli Connelly and grand niece Haven Gwaltney, Las Vegas, cousin Rosemary Nordstrom and family, Eatonville, WA. and her Franciscan family. In lieu of flowers donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014 or Sr Jude fund at VMFH.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sr. Judith Mary Connelly, OSF, please visit our floral store.