Sister Marta Sierra Echavarria

Sister Marta Sierra Echavarria

Newbury Park, CA

Sister Marta Sierra, Servant of Mary, Minister to the sick, 79, peacefully died on January 16, 2016 at the Sisters' convent adjacent to Mary Health of the Sick, where she lived, surrounded by all the Sisters of her religious community who loved her dearly and two family members, her nephew Juan Esteban and her niece Catalina.

Sister Marta was born in Antioquia, Colombia on June 19, 1936. She entered religious life on November 30, 1952 in Medellin, Colombia and professed her temporary vows on July 8, 1955. She came to the United States and professed her perpetual vows in Kansas City on July 8, 1961. She was active in the ministry as a Servant of Mary in home nursing in New Orleans, Kansas, Oxnard and New York from 1973 to 1979.

In 1964, she was one of the founding Sisters of both the Community in Newbury Park, and our Convalescent Home where she was fully active until the day of her hospitalization, December 14, 2015. She served at Mary Health for many years as Director of Pastoral Care and central supply and was very much loved by her Sisters, residents, staff, and family members.

Sister Marta was well-known and loved by many people. She will be remembered for her kindness, simplicity, remarkable thoughtfulness, her total spirit of self-giving to others, her readiness to alleviate the needs of others, and her willingness to listen and give a word of encouragement or a counsel. She would not miss the opportunity to mention the good and qualities of others. She joyfully lived her consecration to God in total dedication to the service of the sick and her Sisters for whom she was untiredly full of attentions which made a difference in our lives.

Sister Marta was most edifying in her sudden and short illness. Many tears were shed at her passing and she will be greatly missed by the members of her religious community and by all who knew and loved her.

Sister Marta is preceded in death by her parents and five brothers and sisters. She is survived by her brother, Rodolfo, her sisters Celina, Dora, Luz and Fabiola and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may pay their respects from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at the Sisters' Chapel at Mary Health of the Sick, 2929 Theresa Drive Newbury Park, California. A rosary will be recited at 6:30pm followed by Vespers. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at St. Julie Billiard Catholic Church, 2475 Borchard Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320. Interment to follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard and lunch at Mary Health of the Sick facility's garden.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Servants of Mary, 2929 Theresa Drive. Newbury Park, CA 91320.

To sign the family's online guestbook, share stories, and post pictures please visit our website: www.garciamortuaryoxnard.com and click on Sister Marta's name located below "Obituaries."

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of GARCIA MORTUARY, 629 South A Street, Oxnard. For further information, please call (805) 486-9148.