Sister M. Monica Fatora

FATORA SISTER M. MONICA, SC
Age 85, died suddenly on Thursday, May 29, 2008, at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Born in New Derry, PA, Sister Monica entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1940, from Saints Simon and Jude Parish, Blairsville, PA. Preceded in death by her parents, John A. and Susan E. (Ritz) Fatora, two brothers, John A., Reverend Joachim, OSB and two sisters, Sister Mary Raymond, SC and Maryanne Fatora, she is survived by a brother, Jerome, and nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor's degree in history from Seton Hill University and a master's degree in biology from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Sister Monica taught students of the junior high and secondary school level in schools of the Altoona-Johnstown, Greensburg and Pittsburgh dioceses. She was teaching at the former Elizabeth Seton High School when a merger took place between that school and South Hills Catholic High School in 1979. She remained at the new entity, Seton-LaSalle High School, as a teacher, thus earning the title, "Charter Faculty Member." Sister Monica was chair of the science department at Seton La-Salle for nine years. In October 1988, Sister Monica was honored at Seton-LaSalle for her years of dedicated ministry to Catholic education. After she retired from the classroom, she assumed the management of the bookstore at Seton-LaSalle. Sister Monica also taught science and mathematics at Seton Hill University during the summer sessions of the 1960s. Sister Monica spoke about her life as a Sister of Charity. "I owe my gift of religious life to the example and influence of my parents, my brothers and sisters. The Sisters of Charity inspired and encouraged me at Saints Simon and Jude grade school as did the priests who served in the parish." Friends received Sunday and Monday 2-7pm, Caritas Christi, 459 Mt. Thor Road, Greensburg, PA. Funeral Mass Monday 7pm, Chapel of the Assumption, Caritas Christi. Burial Sisters' Cemetery, Seton Hill, Greensburg, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity, De Paul Center, 463 Mt. Thor Road, Greensburg, PA 15601.
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