Obituary of Sr. Sylvia A. Asselin, MSC

Sr. Sylvia A. Asselin, MSC, 87, a Marianite of Holy Cross, died peacefully at St. Lawrence Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on Saturday December 9, 2023. Born in Arlington, MA, to parents Romeo and Sylvia Asselin, Sr. Sylvia entered the Marianites of Holy Cross in Princeton, NJ in 1955. She completed her studies in nursing with a BSN from Boston College. Later, she earned a MA in Nursing Administration from New York University, which prepared her to initiate multiple nursing programs, including hospice. Sr. Sylvia’s desire to minister to the people of Appalachia led her to the Good Shepherd Agency of North Carolina, where she designed a home care program, which afforded the poor medical benefits and quality care. From North Carolina, Sr. Sylvia responded to the unexpected call to serve her community in a leadership position, first in North America, and then in France, where she accepted the position as a Mission Coordinator for the congregation. As she visited sisters in India, Bangladesh, Haiti, Chili and Mexico, Sr. Sylvia gained a deeper love for the poor and a greater appreciation for the diverse cultures of the world. After completing her time in leadership, Sr. Sylvia served as Pastoral Assistant at St. Dominic Parish in Brick, NJ, where she established a Parish Nurse program, provided bereavement care, and ministered to the homebound, the sick and the elderly, until her retirement. Predeceased by her parents, her brother Paul and her sister Lyette, Sr. Sylvia is survived by her sister Madeleine Radley, her nieces and nephews and their children. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Sr. Sylvia on Thursday December 14, 2023 at 10 AM at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel at Morris Hall, 1 Bishops’ Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ. Burial will follow in the Marianites of Holy Cross Cemetery, Princeton. Visitation for Sr. Sylvia will be from 9:30AM until time of Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marianites of Holy Cross, c/o Sr. Ann Lacour, 75520 LA – 1081, Covington, LA 70435 would be appreciated.