Sister Loretta Ward, O.S.B., 1920-2005

Sister Loretta Ward, O.S.B., 95, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Friday, Sept. 9, 2005, at the monastery.

Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Monday at St. Mary Monastery Chapel, Rock Island.  Visitation will be 4 – 7 p.m. today at the monastery Chapel, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, is handling arrangements. 

Sister Loretta was born Jan. 16, 1920, in Bradford, Ill., daughter of Leonidas J. and Sarah Driscoll Ward.

She entered the Benedictine community June 16, 1927.  She made her final profession as a Benedictine sister Jan. 5, 1932.  She attended St. John’s School, Bradford, Ill; St. Ambrose College, Davenport; St. Mary’s College, South Bend, Ind., and graduated with an M.A. in theology and scripture.

Her ministry included St. Edmund’s, Nauvoo, St. Roch, LaSalle, St. Mary’s, Wenona, Arlington Public School, Arlington, Ill., St. Columba’s, Chicago, St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Alleman High School, Rock Island, Ladd Catechetical Center, Ladd, Ill., St. Boniface, Peoria, Ill., and Health Care Floor and Business Office, St. Mary Monastery, Nauvoo and Rock Island.

“In her quiet, gentle manner, she worked consistently with zeal for God’s house,” Sister Phyllis McMurray, prioress, said in her remarks at Sister Loretta’s wake service.  “She had a sincere interest in each sister, each member of her family, her students and those among whom she ministered.  She taught us by her example of faithful commitment to her monastic profession of obedience, stability and fidelity to the monastic way of life.”

Sister Loretta is survived by her Benedictine sisters; a brother, Donald Ward, Tupelo, Miss.; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded by her parents and seven sisters and brothers.