Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle

Sister Maria Gri, CSJPBELLEVUE

Sister Maria Gri (Sister Raymond) of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace died Dec. 27 at St. Mary-on-the-Lake. She was 100.

She was born of Italian immigrant parents in Greenwood, British Columbia, Canada. In 1932 she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace novitiate in Bellingham, where her old sister Cecilia Marie had already entered.

Sister Maria earned a B.S. in philosophy and education from Seattle University. She taught in many Catholic schools in Washington state and British Columbia. In 1974 she began work in the medical field as a clerk and secretary with PeaceHealh at St. John’s Hospital in Longview, working alongside her sister Cecilia Marie.

In 2012, after 39 years in Longview, Sister Maria moved with her sister to St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue. Her sister died in 2013. In October 2014 Sister Maria celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by many friends.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 6 at St. Mary-on-the-Lake.

Rita Franzen LewisAUBURN

Rita Lewis, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, died Jan. 2. She was 63.

She was born in Bellingham and moved to Auburn as a young woman. She attended Highline Community College. She was a homemaker who also enjoyed poetry, gardening and praying.

Survivors include her husband, Roger Lewis; son, Jacob Lewis; daughter, Brenda Carey-Di Gregorio; and grandson Benjamin Carey-Di Gregorio.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Jan. 8 at St. Vincent de Paul Church.

Sister Anna Rourke, CSJPBELLEVUE

Sister Anna Rourke (Sister Clarice) of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace died Dec. 24 at St. Mary-on-the-Lake. She was 84.

She was born in Leitrim, Ireland. In 1947 she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Newry, Northern Ireland, and the following year she entered the novitiate in Bellingham.

She received a B.A. from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and an M.Ed. from Seattle University. She served as a teacher and principal from 1950-1977. She served many schools within the Archdiocese of Seattle, as well in Alaska, British Columbia and California.

From 1977-1998 she was a spiritual director and retreat director at Still Point House of Prayer in Seattle and at St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue. She was also involved with the Cursillo Movement, the Marriage Retourno program and Personality and Human Relations, a program for adult development.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 30 at St. Mary-on-the-Lake.