Sister Jacqueline Burns

1927 - 2018

Sister Jacqueline Burns

Florham Park - Sister Jacqueline Burns (the former Sr. M. Francois), 90, Sister of Charity, daughter of Elizabeth Calmar Burns and John Burns, died peacefully on August 6, 2018 at the Villa at Florham Park.

The wake will take place in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, NJ from l to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, August 13, 2018, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 3 p.m. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of S.J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service. For more information please visit www.parsippanyfuneral.com.

Born in Kearny, NJ, Sister Jacqueline entered the Sisters of Charity on March 25, 1946 and was a member for 72 years. She began her career as an elementary and secondary school teacher in Newark and Paterson where she educated students for almost fifteen years.

A woman of vision, grace and extraordinary talent, Sister Jacqueline also served as a college president and mentor. After earning a doctorate in Modern European History from Catholic University, she began her tenure at her alma mater, the College of Saint Elizabeth. Sister Jacqueline dedicated more than thirty years to the College, ten years as Academic Dean and sixteen as President. During these years she sat on numerous state and national boards where she held leadership positions. As a member of the New Jersey Board of Higher Education she applied her extraordinary skills to the development of policy and programs for public and independent colleges and universities in the State.

A dynamic leader in healthcare governance, she was the founding chair of St. Joseph's Healthcare System, having spearheaded the integration of St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, and St. Joseph's Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (Cedar Grove).

As a Sister of Charity, Sister Jacqueline was elected to every General Assembly from 1968 through 2008, chairing many committees. In 1999, she was elected to the General Council and was appointed treasurer of the Corporation.

Sister Jacqueline received Honorary Doctorate degrees from Seton Hall University and Centenary College, many citations for leadership and woman of the year awards, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Heart Association.

She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, her sister, Kathleen Genung and the following nieces and nephews: Jack Genung, Deborah (Wally) Carey, Karen (Joel) McGluckin, Ellen (Steven) Burns, Timothy (Christine) Genung, David Genung, Patricia (Ed) Martell, Rosemary Federer (Steven Fisher), Robert (Penny) Post, Michael (Cherylann) Post, Mary Pero, Jacqueline (Andrew) VanderMulen and Theresa (Brian) Leamy. She was predeceased by her sister Marjorie Post, brothers-in-law Robert Post and Edward Genung, niece Kathy Dorman and nephew Bill Genung.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Sisters of Charity Development Fund, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station NJ 07961-0476 would be greatly appreciated.