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Sister Rita Berby, CSJ
Born: 3/31/1939
Died: 5/18/2020
Age: 81
Community: Wichita, Kansas, formerly of Detroit, MI
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BERBY, SISTER RITA BERBY, CSJ The Sisters of St. Joseph request your prayers for SISTER RITA BERBY, CSJ Who entered into eternal life on May 18, 2020. Burial of Cremains and Memorial Mass at Holy Family Chapel, Nazareth Center, Kalamazoo will be arranged for a later date. Rita Berby was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 31, 1939, the daughter of Arthur and Alma (Lequier) Berby. She was a member of St. Rita's Parish in Detroit at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on September 1, 1958. She received the name Sister Mary Arthur at her reception on July 2, 1959, but later returned to the use of her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows on July 2, 1961, and final vows on July 2, 1964. Sister Rita graduated from Nazareth College in August, 1965 with a degree in History and a minor in Social Studies, Elementary Curriculum. Sister Rita went on to receive her Master's Degree from Wayne State University in 1974 with a degree in Special Education. Sister Rita began teaching at St. Monica Parish in Kalamazoo, Michigan and then at St. Patrick's in the Diocese of Saginaw. She also taught at St. Francis Home and St. Joan of Arc in the Archdiocese of Detroit and St. Pius X in Flint, Michigan. In 1988 Sister Rita worked at Hospitality House in Flint, Michigan as the Manager and then at the Outreach East Center as the Director of Social Services. Her work in Social Services at the Outreach Center led her to her next ministry as the Street Ministry Director at St. Luke Women's Program. In March, 2013 Sister Rita retired but continued to live and volunteer in the Flint area. Due to failing health, Sister Rita returned to Nazareth Center. In her own way, she continued to minister to her sisters and our employees with her quick wit and a twinkle in her eyes. She who for decades represented Christ on the giving end, especially to the poor and those lacking dignity and self-respect, now accepted the challenge of illness and allowed others to be Christ to her. With her dear friends, Sisters Mary Norman Daniels and Rose Lambertz, she moved to our Wichita Center in 2019, grateful for the care she received until the Lord called her home. Reflecting on her Golden Jubilee, Sr. Rita expressed the following: "The challenges of my life, the rewards, all have given me reason to rejoice. With St. Paul I can truly say: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice.'" May She Rest In Peace! |
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5/28/2020 |
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| Burial of Cremains and Memorial Mass at Holy Family Chapel, Nazareth Center, Kalamazoo will be arranged for a later date. |
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