Aston, PA—Sister Evelyn Grudza, OSF, (formerly Sister Philip Marie), 92, died in Assisi House on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 70 years and was celebrating her jubilee year. Sister Evelyn was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish and a graduate of Little Flower High School. She entered the congregation in 1953 and professed her first vows in 1955. She earned a bachelor’s in English from Mount St. Mary’s College and a master’s in education from Towson State University. She ministered primarily in education and pastoral ministry and was a certified chaplain.

Sister Evelyn ministered for 64 years in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She taught at St. Anthony of Padua School, St. Lawrence School, St. Elizabeth School, and St. Clement School, all in Baltimore.  She also taught and served as principal at St. Joseph School in Baltimore 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 Catholic Church; was the Coordinator of Evangelization, Young Adults, and Special Projects for the Archdiocese of Baltimore; and 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 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, Pennsylvania, in 2023, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

Additional ministry included teaching for three years in the Diocese of Wilmington at Immaculate Conception School in Elkton and St. Ann School in Wilmington.  She also taught for one year at St. Ann School in Naples, Florida.

All services will be held in Assisi House on Friday, February 28, 2025, and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Evelyn is survived by her cousins and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

For a more personal write-up on Sister Evelyn, click here.

The livestream will begin at 9:30 A.M. To access the livestream click here: https://www.youtube.com/live/p8mvLCQY-QE