Maryknoll Sister Jane Bruce served Catholic Charities 27 years

Maryknoll Sister Jane Bruce, who served at Catholic Charities Hawaii from 1956 to 1978 and again from 1985 to 1990, died unexpectedly in the Residential Care of the Maryknoll Sisters, Maryknoll, N.Y., on April 2. She entered Maryknoll 61 years ago and was 78 when she died.

Sister Jane was born on Jan. 16, 1927, in Glen Falls, New York.

She entered the Maryknoll Sisters on June 9, 1944, at the age of 17 in the hope of going overseas and contributing in some way to better the world. She made her first vows on March 7, 1947 and her final vows on March 7, 1950 at Maryknoll, N.Y.

The years 1947 through 1950 found her studying for her bachelor’s degree in social studies at Manhattanville College, Purchase, N.Y. and from 1950 to 1952, she earned a master’s in social work from Catholic University in Washington D.C.

After graduation in 1952, she was assigned to the Chicago Archdiocesan Catholic Charities to do social work. She remained there until 1956 when she joined the Honolulu Catholic Social Services, the former name of Catholic Charities Hawaii. She worked there until 1978.

From January 1979, she served at Maryknoll Sisters Center, N.Y., primarily in the Congregational Personnel Department, until March 1985 when she returned to Hawaii. Here she held a leadership position in the Maryknoll Sisters Central Pacific Region from 1986 to 1989 while also serving at Catholic Charities Services to the Elderly.

From 1990 through 2003, she was the director of social services in the licensed Maryknoll Nursing Home.

Sister Jane retired in 2003 at Maryknoll Sisters Center which she said allowed her to be enriched further by many people of various cultures, races and religions.

Her funeral and burial was April 8 at Maryknoll. Of her three surviving siblings, Joan Bruce Winchell lives in Honolulu, Ann Bruce De Avila resides in Queensbury, N.Y. and John Bruce lives in Rochester, N.Y.