Sister Mary Leona Zetah RSM

Sister Mary Leona Zetah, RSM In Oakland on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at the age of 93. Born in Olivia, MN, Doris Mary Zetah was the second of the eleven children of Frank Zetah and Mary Kodet Zetah. She grew up on the family farm outside of Olivia, then moved to California in the 1940's where she met the Sisters of Mercy. In 1944 she and her younger sister Murial entered the community in Burlingame, receiving the names of Sister Mary Leona and Sister Mary Celine. After she professed her vows in 1946, for the next twenty years Sister Mary Leona, an excellent cook, managed kitchens at the Motherhouse in Burlingame; St. Joseph's Military Academy, Belmont; and Our Lady's Home, Oakland (now Mercy Retirement and Care Center). Sister then began a ministry of visiting the sick at Mercy Hospital, San Diego (now Scripps-Mercy Medical Center) and Our Lady's Home, Oakland. A later ministry was praying for the Interfaith Hospitality Network established on the San Francisco Peninsula to house homeless families. A master at reflexology and Reiki, her greatest gift was the "laying on of hands", a gift which she extended to many ill and distressed people. She was a woman of prayer, charismatic praise and healing. Sister Mary Leona is survived by her sister, Sister Mary Celine, RSM; her brothers Joseph A. Zetah and Jerome F. Zetah, their wives, Elizabeth and Carol; many nieces and nephews and their families, and her loving community of the Sisters of Mercy. Friends may visit at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse Chapel, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 5. The vigil service will be held that evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Chapel and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning, February 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010.