Topic archive
Remembrances
The prayer card for Loretto’s deceased members reads, “Gracious God, may they live forever in the splendor of your light and life in the company of all the saints.” We know that they do, but it’s good to say it. View all Obituaries.
Remembrance of the Life of Ruth McDonough Fitzpatrick CoL
Loretto Co-member Ruth McDonough Fitzpatrick died June 15, 2023. She had been a Loretto co-member since Oct. 22, 1994, and celebrated the 25th jubilee of her co-membership in 2019. Ruth was a good friend of Loretto and shared in many…
Remembrance of the Life of Sister Kay (formerly Sister Josita) DeMarea SL
Loretto Sister Kay (formerly Sister Josita) DeMarea died June 8 in the Loretto Living Center at Loretto Motherhouse, in the 75th year of her Loretto commitment. Kay DeMarea was born in Kansas City, Mo., the younger daughter of Joseph and Katherine…
Remembrance of the Life of Sister Mary Kenneth Lewis SL
Loretto Sister Mary Kenneth Lewis died May 20, 2023, surrounded by the Loretto Living Center staff who had cared for her for many years. Mary Ken celebrated her 80th year as a Sister of Loretto on April 25. She had…
Remembrance of the Life of Sister Gabriel Mason SL
Loretto Sister Gabriel Mason died May 15, 2023, at Loretto Living Center at Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Ky., with her good friend Loretto Co-member Sue Kenney by her side. Gabe was 95 in the 68th year of her Loretto life. Sister Gabriel was born…
Remembrance of the Life of Sister Carol Ann Ptacek SL
Loretto Sister Carol Ann Ptacek died April 29 at Loretto Living Center, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Ky. Her funeral Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Jim Graf May 8 at Loretto Motherhouse. Carol Ann devoted nearly all of her 62 years…
Remembrance of the Life of Barbara Kinney CoL
Loretto Co-member Barbara Kinney died in her sleep Feb. 22 in a rehab center in Shawnee Mission, Kan. Barbara was an active Loretto co-member since 2014 and a supportive friend to Loretto in Kansas City since the early 1970s. Barbara’s…
Remembrance of the Life of Maria Brann CoL
Loretto Co-member Maria Brann, in the company of good friends, died Feb. 13 at St. Anne’s Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in San Francisco. Maria was 97. She became a Loretto co-member Jan. 23, 1996, and ever since…
Remembrance of the Life of Jo Ann Purcell CoL
Loretto Co-member Josephine Ann “Jo Ann” (O’Connell) Purcell died peacefully Jan. 14 at The Ridge at Pinehurst in Denver in the company of family. She was 89 and in her 30th year as part of the Loretto Community. Jo Ann…
Remembrance of the Life of Mary Anne Reese CoL
Loretto Co-member Mary Anne Reese, 66, died Dec. 20, 2022, at University of Louisville-Jewish Hospital after several months of illness. She had moved Oct. 13, 2022, from Cincinnati to the Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary in Nerinx, Ky. Mary Anne was a…
Remembrance of the Life of Evelyn Donohoo CoL
Loretto Co-member Evelyn Donohoo died Nov. 6 in St. Louis, just three months short of her 100th birthday and in the 29th year of her Loretto life. She made every minute of her life count! Evelyn was born in St.…
Remembrance of the Life of Sister Mary Lee Murphy (formerly Sister Marie Dolores Phillips) SL
Sister Mary Lee Murphy (formerly Sister Marie Dolores Phillips) SL died Aug. 24 at Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary. She was 93 and in the 74th year of her life as a Sister of Loretto. Mary Lee Murphy has left us a…
Remembrance of the Life of Jane Elizabeth Kosters CoL
(Editor’s note: Loretto Co-member Jane Elizabeth Kosters died Aug. 10, 2022, in Denver. She would have turned 80 years old Aug. 17.) Jane Kosters began telling us about herself in her 1975 application for Loretto comembership: “I am second oldest of…