WHITE, Sister Rita (formerly Sister Gabriella), School Sister of Notre Dame
Died at Notre Dame Covent, Waterdown, Ontario on December 2, 2021 at age 99 and in her 80th year as a School Sister of Notre Dame. Predeceased by her parents, Murray and Julia(Busch) White and her brother, Jack. Lovingly remembered by the members of her religious community, her sister-in-law, Beverly White and nieces. Having graduated from Hamilton Teacher’s College in 1943 Sister Rita taught at the following schools: Basilica, Hamilton, Sacred Heart, St. Leo and St. Joseph, Kitchener, Sacred Heart, Ladner and Cloverdale, British Columbia and St. Charles, Mearns, Alberta. From 1968 – 1973 she was principal in schools in Catacota, La Paz, Bolivia. On her return to Canada, Sister Rita studied at St. Paul University, Ottawa where she attained her M.A. degree in pastoral studies. In 1977 she assisted at St. Patrick Parish, Burlington until 1982 when she was missioned to Villa El Salvador, Lima , Peru. When asked to minister to HIV-AIDs persons, she eagerly accepted the invitation. For 12 years she worked with AIDs patients and their families, visiting them in hospitals and in their homes, organizing self- help groups and advocating the government for free medication. Assured by her friends that her work would continue, Sister Rita returned to Notre Dame Convent in 2002. For several years she communicated with her HIV friends in Lima by email.
Although she was no longer in active ministry, she joined the “Square Ladies”, a group of seniors who sewed squares together which were knitted by cancer patients waiting for appointments. The completed afghans were given to new cancer patients.
Sister Rita focussed her attention on others and her pleasant manner brightened the lives of those with whom she associated. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Notre Dame Convent, Waterdown on Tuesday, December 7 at 10:30am, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Burlington.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sister Rita White Thursday December 2nd 2021..
Death notice for the town of: HAMILTON, Province: Ontario