Brother Celestine Cormier, FSC
Funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 2 at the Christian Brothers Holy Family Retirement Community in Napa, Calif., for Christian Brother Celestine Cormier, founding principal of La Salle High School in Pasadena, who died Dec. 26 at age 91.

A Christian Brother for 72 years, Brother Cormier supervised the construction and operation of La Salle (which opened in September 1956), as well as its expansion, which added a library and architecturally renowned gymnasium. His leadership helped define La Salle High School for three decades.

In 1987, he retired and moved to the Brothers' Holy Family community in Napa. In the weeks before his death, he still exhibited care and concern for others, counseling a staff nurse to: "Go take this sandwich and give it to the poor."

Sister Ruth Salibra, CSJ
Funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 23 at Carondelet Center, Brentwood, for St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Ruth Salibra (formerly Sister Michael Joseph) who died Feb. 18.

A Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet since 1937, Sister Salibra taught at St. Eugene and Ascension Schools in Los Angeles. She also served as principal at St. Cecilia School (1964-65, 1967-69) and St. Patrick School (1965-67). In 1982, she traded the classroom for the school library at St. Eugene and worked there until her retirement.

Members of her community described her as a gracious woman who "enjoyed life and accepted willingly and peacefully God's plan."

Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

Sister Ann Louise Schlitt, SNDdeN
Funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 5 at the Notre Dame Province Center in Belmont for Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Ann Louise Schlitt who died Jan. 1.

Born in Los Angeles, Sister Schlitt was one of the first students to attend St. Columbkille School. In 1933, soon after graduating from Catholic Girls' High School (Bishop Conaty/Our Lady of Loretto), she took the train by herself to enter the Sisters of Notre Dame novitiate in Belmont, south of San Francisco.

For 46 years, she taught and administered Notre Dame elementary and high schools in Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Alameda, Watsonville and Salinas. In 1978, she joined the emerging hospice movement, spending twenty years furthering its growth. She was instrumental in the formation of Mission Hospice in San Mateo County.

Until her death, she continued to keep in touch with friends made during her work as an educator, director of novices, hospice volunteer and nursing home ombudsman. She is lovingly remembered by her nieces and nephews, former students and her community.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Retirement Fund, 1520 Ralston Ave., Belmont, CA 94002.

Lucy Morales Ramirez
Funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 22 at Immaculate Conception Church for Lucy Morales Ramirez who died Jan. 17. She was the mother of Father Charles J. Ramirez, Immaculate Conception pastor.

Mrs. Ramirez had been a longtime member of St. Frances of Rome Church in Azusa. She was a former president of the Guadalupe Society and also served as president of the PTA at the parish school during its early years. She constantly promoted devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus and participation in Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.

Surviving immediate family members include two sons, Father Ramirez and Ronald James Ramirez of Alta Loma; three daughters, Cindy Gaffey of Walnut, Yolanda Maldonado of Claremont and Rochelle Armijo of Covina; 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.