Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Dec. 18, 2003 edition of the Inland Register)

Holy Names Sister Mary Ellen McKillop died Dec. 1 at the age of 80.

The vigil service was the evening of Dec. 4; the funeral Mass, the morning of Dec. 5. Both took place at the Convent of the Holy Names in Spokane.

In addition, there was a rosary and celebration life for Sister Mary Ellen on Dec. 12 at Holy Names Academy, Seattle.

She was born in Seattle and graduated from Holy Names Academy. She held a bachelor’s degree in English from Marylhurst College and a master’s degree in English literature from Seattle University.

She entered the novitiate in 1944 and pronounced vows in 1946. From 1946-82 she taught in secondary schools in Oregon and Washington. She also taught and served as a school principal in Lesotho, South Africa, for six years. Upon her return to the United States she worked in the Spokane Diocese’s Marriage Tribunal.

She retired to the Convent of the Holy Names in 1993.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names Retirement Fund, 2911 W. Fort Wright Dr., Spokane, WA 99224.

Sister Rosalia Cizewski of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia died Dec. 4 in Tacoma at the age of 90. She had been a member of her Religious community for 70 of her years.

The vigil was held Dec. 8; the funeral Mass was celebrated the next morning. Both took place at St. Ann Convent, Tacoma, with burial following at Calvary Cemetery.

She was born in Milwaukee, Wis., but moved as a child to Puyallup, Wash. She entered Religious life in 1930 and spent her time as candidate and novice in Pendleton, Ore.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Fort Wright College, Spokane, and taught mostly in primary education in Washington, Oregon, and California, including St. Joseph Home and the Shriners’ Hospital, as well as St. Charles School, all in Spokane.

Donations in her name can be made to Franciscan Ministries Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.