WEST PEORIA — Sister Mary Judith (Jean Marie) Morris, 78, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, died on Nov. 26 at Mother of Peace Home.

She was the daughter of the late George and Rosalia Morris. Sister Mary Judith entered the congregation on Sept. 8, 1953, and was in her 57th year of religious profession. Beginning in 1956, she taught at several schools in Illinois. She then received her master’s degree in speech therapy and ministered as a speech therapist at Sacred Heart School in Moline, and the Institute of Physical Medicine in Peoria. In 1979, her ministry became that of bookkeeper at St. Patrick’s Day Care, Peoria. In 1981, Sister Mary Judith came to St. Joseph Home in Springfield, where she worked as bookkeeper and as co-administrator, administrator, and supervisor of the Holy Family Center for the elderly living with dementia.

In addition to the Franciscan sisters with whom she shared her life, Sister Mary Judith is survived by her sisters, Helen Harvey, Teresa Osterbur, and Pauline Basiz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings: Ted Morris, Lucille Murphy, Julie Reffett, Rosemary Strawser, Mary Lou Brandt, Anthony Morris and George Morris.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 3 at Immaculate Conception Convent in West Peoria, with Father Lawrence Zurek, OFM, as celebrant. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, West Peoria.

Memorials may be made to the Retirement Fund of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, 2408 W. Heading Ave., West Peoria, IL 61604-5096.