Sr. Bernice Marso, BVM
Funeral Mass was held Feb. 1 at the Marian Hall Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa, for Sister of Charity Bernice Marso, (Ann Catherine), 79, who died Jan. 28 in Iowa.
A Los Angeles native, she graduated from St. Philip School and St. Andrew High School, Pasadena, before entering the BVM congregation in 1945. For 33 years, Sister Marso ministered as an elementary educator in Southern California. She taught at Holy Redeemer in Montrose (1960-63), St. Robert Bellarmine in Burbank (1963-79) and St. John Baptist de la Salle in Granada Hills (1979-93). She also taught in Phoenix and Tucson and, after retiring, did volunteer parish ministry in Carlsbad.
Survivors include her sister, Sister of Charity Margaret Marso of Glendale. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Retirement Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa, 52003.
Stephanie Baxter, IHM
Funeral Mass was held Jan. 29 at the Calvary Mortuary Chapel in Los Angeles for Stephanie Baxter, IHM, who died Jan. 23.
Born in Los Angeles, she attended Immaculate Conception School and Catholic Girls High School (Bishop Conaty). Immediately following high school, she entered the Immaculate Heart Novitiate in Hollywood and made her first profession in 1937.
She ministered as an educator for many of her 70 years in the IHM community. She taught elementary school at Blessed Sacrament, Hollywood; Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Vibiana in Los Angeles; St. Matthew in Long Beach, and St. Joseph in La Puente.
Her years as a high school instructor or principal were at Bishop Conaty and Our Lady Queen of Angels in Los Angeles; St. Anthony in Long Beach and Mission High School in San Luis Obispo. She also taught French at Immaculate Heart College, where she supervised the boarders.
After her teaching assignments, she served at the IHM novitiate in Montecito and later returned as superior. In the early '70s, she moved to San Diego, where she taught in the adult education program offered through San Diego State University. She eventually returned to the Los Angeles area where she became principal, and later, president of Alverno High School in Sierra Madre.
In 1979, she served as IHM community development director, a position she held for 16 years. Before retiring, she managed the Corita art collection in Hollywood, which involved promotion, exhibits and sales. Memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Heart Community, 5515 Franklin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028.
Sr. Margaret Mary O'Neill, OP
Funeral Mass was held Dec. 23 at Queen of the Rosary Chapel in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, for Dominican Sister Margaret Mary "Peg" O'Neill, who died Dec. 19.
Born in Omaha, she made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican in 1948 and ministered as an educator, hospital chaplain and prioress. Locally, she was principal at All Saints School, Los Angeles (1969-1972).
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., 53824-9701.
Yolando Chua
Funeral Mass was held Feb. 3 at All Souls Cemetery and Mortuary in Long Beach for Yolando Chua, who died Jan. 20 of a heart attack. Chua was the brother of Father Freddie Chua, administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Tujunga.
Sr. Mary Assumpta Murray, RSM
Funeral Mass was held Feb. 5 in Burlingame for Sister of Mercy Mary Assumpta, a longtime leader in the Sisters of Mercy Community throughout California and Arizona, who died Jan. 31 in Burlingame, at the age of 98.
Born in Louisiana, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1929. Her long career in various leadership roles included principal of St. John's Military Academy and dean at Conaty Memorial High School in Los Angeles, in addition to similar positions in Northern California schools.
She then served in the Mercy Sisters' leadership from 1959 to 1974. Under her guidance, Burlingame Sisters began working in Peru's Altiplano in 1964. She was chairman of St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix for five years and moved in 1979 to St. John's Hospital in Oxnard where she was the visible presence of Mercy in the community for 22 years in the Quality Management Department.
"My ministry is dealing with people," she said of her work in Oxnard. "I do reach their hearts. People returning to the hospital say, 'I need to hear the prayers from you.' I've had a whole lot of experience in prayers."
Survivors include her brother Msgr. Richard Murray of Los Angeles; her sisters Mabel Cummings and Margaret Benkert; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Memorial gifts may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010. |