OBITUARIES

A Sister of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Los Angeles for 60 years, Sister Stuckey suffered a stroke while performing administrative duties for the International Institute of Theological and Tribunal Studies, which she helped establish with Msgr. Charles Chaffman, archdiocesan judicial vicar and IITTS director.

Born in Nebraska, she moved with her parents to Los Angeles, where she was educated by the Immaculate Heart Sisters. She joined the religious congregation in 1951 and a year later received her B.A. in English from Immaculate Heart College. Other academic degrees included an M.A. in English from Immaculate Heart College (1958), an M.A. in pastoral studies from Loyola Marymount University (1993) and a Doctorate in Ministry from The Catholic University of America (1997).

Sister Stuckey’s high school teaching ministry included stints as an English and/or Religion teacher at Holy Family, Glendale; Mary Star of the Sea, San Pedro; Immaculate Heart College and Immaculate Heart High School, Los Angeles; St. Anthony, Long Beach; and Bishop Conaty, Los Angeles. From 1998-2005, she was a part time instructor in LMU’s Department of Theological Studies.

Her Doctorate in Ministry with a focus on adult spiritual formation prepared her well for her new ministry begun in 2005 helping Msgr. Chaffman establish IITTS, providing theological and tribunal courses leading to a canon law degree for students transferring to the Angelicum in Rome.

“By her example, Sister Stuckey taught us how to be life-long learners as she participated in fruitful ministry later in life,” said Msgr. Chaffman. “Her choice to minister in her senior years gave her great meaning and joy.”

One of Sister Stuckey’s last wishes was to give Archbishop José Gomez a chalice from the Immaculate Heart Community to be used at the new chapel commissioned by the archbishop for use by the Archdiocesan Catholic Center community. While she had an opportunity to choose the chalice, she died before she could present it to Archbishop Gomez. In honor of her wish, that chalice was presented to Sister of Charity Mary Elizabeth Galt, archdiocesan chancellor, at Sister Stuckey’s funeral.

Sr. Mary Anne Pargett, OP
Funeral Mass was held Oct. 22 at the Dominican Sisters Chapel in Fremont for Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose Mary Anne Pargett, who died Oct. 16 at age 82. 

Born in Oakland, Sister Pargett was a Dominican Sister for 63 years. Her principal active ministry was elementary education in California and Oregon. Locally, she taught at St. Frances X. Cabrini School, St. Ignatius of Loyola School and Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

After her retirement in 1979, she was treasurer for the Motherhouse community at Mission San Jose for 23 years and bookkeeper for Queen of Peace Community there until her assignment to St. Martin’s Residence and the apostolate of prayer.

Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund or the Mother Pia Backes Education Fund, 43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539 or the Vision of Hope Fund, 1555 34th Ave., Oakland, CA 94601.

Fr. Isidoro Garcia, CMF
Funeral Mass was held Oct. 31 at Dominguez Seminary in Rancho Dominguez for retired Claretian Missionary Father Isidoro Garcia, 81, who died Oct. 27 at Santa Teresita Manor in Duarte. 

Born in Corella, Navarra, Spain, in 1930, he made his first profession in his native country and was ordained in Chicago in 1954 by Bishop Pedro Grau, CMF. In his later years, he was active in outreach ministry in Casa Claret at Dominguez, Rancho Dominguez.

Sr. Rita Francis Fraser, CSJ
Funeral Mass was held Oct. 1 for Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Rita Francis Fraser, 91, who died Sept. 25 in Concord following a short stay in the hospital. 

Born in Oakland, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1942 and ministered in education throughout California her entire life. For ten years, she taught at Bishop Montgomery High School, Torrance. Sister Fraser worked through her 91st year of life and always gave 100 percent of her time and energy.

According to her friends, she was “a person of hospitality and welcome, a woman who valued people for who they were not for what they had. She enjoyed every minute of her 91-plus years.” Burial was in Oakland.

Sr. Ruth Eileen Dwyer, SP
Funeral Mass was held Oct. 14 in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, for Sister of Providence Ruth Eileen Dwyer, 85, who died Oct. 7. 

Born in Chicago, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in 1944. In her 67 years as a Sister of Providence, she taught for 20 years in elementary and high schools in Illinois, Indiana, Washington, D.C. and California. 

Locally, she taught at St. Anthony in Gardena (1951-53) and St. Therese in Alhambra (1953-55). Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.

Sr. M. Emilia Techtman, OP
Funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 18 in Fremont for Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose M. Emilia Techtman, 95, who died Oct. 13.

A native of Janesville, Wis., she was a Dominican Sister for 76 years, 56 of them in elementary education. In Los Angeles, she taught at Santa Teresita and Sacred Heart Schools and also taught at St. Callistus School, Garden Grove.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund or the Mother Pia Backes Education Fund, 43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539 or the Vision of Hope Fund, 1555 34th Ave., Oakland, CA 94601. 

Marjorie Fay Bukin
A Memorial Mass was celebrated Oct. 22 at San Roque Church in Santa Barbara for Marjorie Fay Bukin, 91, who died Oct. 8. Survivors include her son, Msgr. Michael Jennett, pastor, San Roque Church.