Sr. Rita Mary Lyons CSJP

Sr. Rita Mary LYONS, CSJP Sister Rita Mary Lyons died peacefully on June 3, 2011 in Bellevue, WA. Sister Rita Mary was born on August 30, 1913 in Prior Lake, Minnesota. After graduating from Sedro Woolley High School in 1931 she attended the St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Bellingham, WA. She entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1934. Sister Rita Mary earned a B.S. degree from St. Louis University, an M.A. in education from Seattle University and an M.A. in religious education from Immaculate College, Los Angeles. For over 40 years Sister Rita Mary served as a nurse, instructor and supervisor in health care ministry in PeaceHealth in Bellingham and Wenatchee, WA and Eugene, OR. From 1977 through 2001 she ministered as a hospital chaplain at Ketchikan General Hospital, in Ketchikan, AK. Since retirement in 2001 Sr. Rita Mary lived at St. Mary-on-the-Lake, Bellevue, WA. Sr. Rita Mary celebrated her 75th Jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace in 2010. Sr. Rita Mary has touched our lives in countless ways: her dedication in serving others, her deep faith and warm hospitality, and her peace-filled embrace of death. Vigil Service will be on Friday, June 10th, at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, June 11th at 9:00 a.m. Both services will be held at St. Mary-on-the-Lake, 1663 Killarney Way, Bellevue, WA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, PO Box 248, Bellevue, WA 98009-0248.