Sister Mary Pia Lawless

Sister Mary Pia Lawless, 89

Sister Mary Pia Lawless, 89, a Poor Clare cloistered nun, died Tuesday, July 16, 2025, at Corpus Christi Monastery, Rockford, Illinois, after a long illness. She was born October 25, 1935, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, daughter of John Joseph and Marie Ann (Dillon) Lawless.

Sister Pia became a professed member of the Franciscan Sisters of Frankfurt, Illinois. After a retreat, she was inspired to become a Poor Clare and entered the monastery August 2, 1995, and would have been celebrating her Silver Jubilee of Profession this year.

She served our Community in many ways over the years spending much time and many prayers answering the benefactor mail and answering the phone. She sewed and was a marvelous knitter, creating countless items for the gift shop, for handy projects, and for gifts.

She will not leave us in peace! If we do not mention her great devotion to St. Padre Pio, who as a young woman she got to meet and touch in Italy.

She is predeceased by her parents, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters.

She is survived by her Community and by a clan-full of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 12:00 – 6:30 p.m.; Monday, July 21, 2025, from 10:00 – 6:20 p.m.; Tuesday, July 22 from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral Mass in the monastery parlor. The wake service will be held Monday, July 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the monastery chapel. Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with Bishop David Malloy officiating.