Posted April 2, 2013

Sister Julia Hare, who was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 79 years, died of heart failure March 22 at Holy Child Center in Rosemont. She was 100.

Born in Suffern, N.Y., Sister Julia graduated from Holy Child High School, Suffern, in 1929. She entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in 1931, professing her first vows in 1934 and her final vows in 1937. She became well-known by her religious name of Mother Mary Mathias.

In 1934, Sister Julia began her ministry teaching at West Philadelphia Catholic Girls High School in Philadelphia.

She served there for three months before moving to Waukegan, Ill., where she taught at St. Anastasia School until 1937. In Waukegan, Sister Julia also taught at Holy Child High School from 1949-1959.

Sister Julia served in theNew Yorkarea for more than 30 years. She taught at her alma mater, Holy Child High School in Suffern, from 1937-1938 and 1947-1949; at Our Lady of Lourdes in New York, N.Y., from 1939-1942; at St. Elizabeth’s School in New York, N.Y. from 1942-1947; and at Holy Child Academy in Old Westbury, N.Y. from 1970-1972. Sister Julia also taught at School of the Holy Child inRye,N.Y.from 1959-1967 and from 1977-1986. She then assisted with the school’s publicity efforts from 1986-1993.

Sister Julia also served at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, Calif., from 1967-1970; at the Cornelia Connelly School in Anaheim, Calif. From 1972-1976; and at St. Edward’s School inPhiladelphia,Pa.from 1938-1939.

Sister Julia retired in 1993, living at the Holy Child Convent in Rye., N.Y. In 2006 she moved to Holy Child Center in Rosemont, where she lived until her death.

Sister Julia earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin from Rosemont College in Rosemont in 1944 and a master’s degree in English from Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y., in 1949.

She is survived by one nephew and her religious community.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated March 26 in the New Sharon Chapel, Rosemont. Burial followed at Calvary Cemetery in Conshohocken.