Aston, PA—Sister John Catherine Rohe, (96) died in Assisi House on April 9. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 76 years. Sister John Catherine (Florence Mary Rohe) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Fullerton and a graduate of Seton High School. She entered the congregation in 1935 and professed her first vows in 1938. Two of her sisters, (Sisters Alice Joseph Rohe and Alice Catherine Rohe) and three cousins (Sisters Doris Barlow, Ellen Patricia Rohe, and Jean Clare Rohe) also entered the congregation. All with the exception of Sister Jean Clare are now deceased. Sister John Catherine ministered in education on both elementary and secondary levels and as both teacher and principal. She began her many years in education shortly after her entrance, teaching at St. Anthony School in Trenton, New Jersey (1935-1936).
Sister John Catherine ministered for 38 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She taught at St. Katharine School (1937-1947), Towson Catholic High School (1953). From 1972-1982 she served as principal of the Catholic High School of Baltimore. From 1988-1993 she worked as part of the support staff at St. Joseph School in Fullerton. In 1993-1997 and again from 1998-2007, she lived at St. Anthony Convent and volunteered both as a tutor and as a Eucharistic minister to shut-ins.
Sister John Catherine also ministered for 19 years in the Diocese of Allentown. She taught at both Allentown Central Catholic High School (1953-1957) and Reading Central Catholic High School (1957-1972).
Sister John Catherine’s six years in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee included serving as principal of Trinity Catholic School in Tallahassee (1982-1988). She also ministered for six years in the Archdiocese of Washington, teaching at St. Bernadette School in Silver Spring, Maryland (1947-1953).
In 2007 Sister John Catherine moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer ministry until her death.
All services will be held in Assisi House, 610 Red Hill Road, Pennsylvania, 19014 on Monday, April 14. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial at will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister John Catherine is survived by her sisters, Mary Blondell, Irene McCafferty, Margaret Muller, Shirley Manubay; nieces and nephews; cousins; and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
