Sister Edith Judge, CCVI

Sister Edith was born in 1930 to Arthur and Cecilia Smith Judge in Turners Cross, Co. Cork, Ireland. When she was three years old, she was given one hour to live during her six weeks and two days in the hospital. God had other plans for her. Sister Edith and her family moved to Dublin on the eve of her sixth birthday.

She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word on November 27, 1947 at St. Michael Convent, Co. Clare, Ireland. Six months later, Sister left Ireland for Villa de Matel, Houston, Texas. She consecrated her life to God through Profession of Perpetual Vows on August 15, 1955 at Villa de Matel, Houston.

Sister Edith made her first directed retreat in 1970. She meditated on the suffering of Jesus on the Cross. Looking at Him, she feebly attempted to console Him. When she told her director about this he said, “You go back and let Him look at you.” She did so and experienced the most profound spiritual encounter with Jesus. She saw Jesus looking at her with the most beautiful tender, soft, loving eyes she had ever seen or imagined. Many times throughout 50 years, she has thanked Jesus for this spiritual experience and His great love for her. After 50 years, she wrote about this most gracious spiritual experience.

Over the span of 60 years, Sister Edith ministered in schools and hospitals. She taught at St. Frances Cabrini School in Alexandria, Louisiana and Our Lady of Fatima School in Texas City, Texas. While serving in hospital ministry, she became the Director of Medical Records at St. Patrick Hospital, Lake Charles, Louisiana; St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Alexandria Louisiana; and St. Joseph Hospital, Houston, Texas.

After receiving a Master’s degree in Hospital Administration, Sister Edith served as Hospital Administrator at St. Charles Hospital, Newellton, Louisiana; Assistant Hospital Administrator at St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, California; Hospital Administrator at St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Alexandria, Louisiana; and Administrator at St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur, Texas.

Sister then studied Pastoral Ministry and was missioned to serve at St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach, California and St. Bernardine Medical Center, San Bernardino, California. She transitioned to Regional Director of Mission Services for both hospitals. In 1998, Sister Edith was transferred to St. Michael Convent, Carrigoran House, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland. Shen then worked at St. Mary Medical Center as a Patient Representative and then returned to Carrigoran House. After a sabbatical, she returned to St. Bernardine Medical Center as a Patient Representative, where she ministered to cardiac patients until 2017. In 2017, she returned to the Motherhouse to begin a ministry of prayer.

Sister Edith is survived by her sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

Sister Edith’s body will be received privately at the Immaculate Conception Chapel, Villa de Matel, 6510 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas at 5:00 P.M., on Tuesday, July 20th, 2021 followed by Evening Praise and a celebration of her life. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at 10:30 A.M. (Livestream on Earthman Bellaire Facebook page) on Wednesday, July 21st. 2021. A private Rite of Committal will follow at Villa de Matel Cemetery.