February 19, 2020

A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Donna Jean Tavernier (formerly Sister Mary Jude) will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 22, 2020 in the Redeemer Sisters Chapel, 521 Moredon Road, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.

Sister Donna, 85, died Thursday, February 13, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Manor, Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania, in the 67th year of her religious life.

A native of Ogdensburg, she was one of four children born to Francis and Ernestine O’Donoghue Tavernier. Donna Jean graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in 1953, the year she entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart. She later received a bachelor’s degree in Education from D’Youville College.

Sister served for 33 years in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, with assignments both in Potsdam and Ogdensburg. Additional places of service were in Jackson Heights and Buffalo, New York; Mahanoy City, King of Prussia, Paoli and Yardley, Pennsylvania; Lowell, Massachusetts; and Kodiak, Alaska.

While the majority of her 55 years of ministry were in the field of education, Sister’s knowledge and skills were further channeled in health services to her Grey Nun Sisters as a Nurse’s Aide in the Motherhouse Infirmary and later as Activities Aide/Clerical Worker at St. Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg for 15 years.

In 2011 Sister retired to the Motherhouse and later to Holy Redeemer D’Youville Manor where she continued to provide Intracommunity service until 2014, when Sister moved to St. Joseph’s Manor.

In addition to her religious community, she is survived by her sister, Dianne Fitzgibbon, and nieces and nephews.

Sister is predeceased by her parents and two brothers. She is also predeceased by her aunt, Sister Rose O’Donoghue, GNSH (Sister Mary Evangeline).

A viewing will be held on prior to the Mass of Christian Burial on Feb. 22 at 9:30 a.m. in the Redeemer Sisters Chapel, followed by sharing of memories at 10:15. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Services have been arranged by Beck-Givnish Funeral Homes, Inc. Donations in Sister Donna’s memory will be gratefully received by the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, 14500 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19116-1188 or at www.greynun.org.