Obituary of Sister Vaira

Vaira, Sister Pat (Antonita), OSF Sister Patricia Vaira, OSF (1931 - 2012) died at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, Joliet, Illinois on July 31, 2012. A native of South Wilmington, Illinois, she was one of six children born to Anton and Lucy (Jewett) Vaira. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Catherine Vaira and brothers: John and Joseph. She is survived by her sisters, Charlotte Curtis (Gary) of Coal City, IL and Marilyn McClennan (John) of Sheridan, IL. Sister Patricia was a treasured member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet) for 62 years. Before entering religious life, Sister Patricia was a member of St. Lawrence Parish in South Wilmington. She attended South Wilmington Elementary School and graduated from South Wilmington High School. Sister Patricia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Francis (University of St. Francis) Joliet, IL, and a Master of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Sister Patricia began her ministry in 1953 at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Columbus, Ohio where she taught Grade Four and was the Parish Organist. From 1953 until 1957 Sister served in Parishes in Ohio. In 1957 she began a six year ministry of teaching General Business, Typing, Stenography and Bookkeeping at St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy) in Joliet. In 1963 her ministry took her back to Ohio where she taught at Bishop Ready in Columbus and St. Thomas Aquinas in Louisville. In 1968 she began an almost 40 year ministry at St. Peter High School in Mansfield, Ohio. She interrupted this stay from 1972 to 1976 when she served her Religious Congregation as General Secretary. In 2008 she returned to Joliet, where she ministered at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. The wake for Sister Patricia will be at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, 1201 Wyoming Avenue, Joliet, IL, (Wyoming and Rt. 30) on Friday, August 3, 2012, from 2:00 - 6:45 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 4:45 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Procession will leave from Our Lady of Angels on Saturday morning, August 4, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. The Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, IL. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435. Arrangements by: FRED C. DAMES FUNERAL HOME 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet For information: 815-741-5500