Sr. Mary Anne Lavelle, CSJ

Below is the death notice of Sr. Mary Ann Lavelle, CSJ sister of the late Farrell Lavelle, Class of 1957, and Br. Robert Lavelle, Class of 1958. Please keep the Lavelle family in your prayers.

Mary Ellen Lavelle was one of thirteen children born to Michael and Maud Kilbane Lavelle. She attended several elementary schools, graduating from St. Patrick, West Park in 1942.

Mary Ellen thought about becoming a sister during most of her elementary years. When she was in the seventh grade, she came to know and love Sister Madonna Sonnhalter, who had a great influence on her decision to become a Sister of St. Joseph.

Sister Madonna invited Mary Ellen to join the Preparate while she was at St. Joseph Academy. She formally entered the Congregation of St. Joseph in Cleveland in 1943, and was given the religious name Sister Mary Ann. She graduated from high school in 1946. Mary Ann then attended St. John College on Saturdays and summers and received her BSE in 1960.

Sister Mary Ann taught first through fourth grades at the following parish schools:

1940s - St. Aloysius;

1950s - Our Lady of Grace, Encino, CA; St Mary, Berea;

1960s - St. Angela Merici; Our Lady of Angels; St. John, Lorain; St. Brendan;

1970s - St. Colman; St. Mary, Berea; Assumption, Brookpark; St. Vincent de Paul, Elyria;

1980s - Lorain County Catholic Day Care, St. Bartholomew, and principal at St. Clement, Lakewood

Mary Ann received the Outstanding Elementary Teacher award in 1974 from Elementary Teachers of America.

Mary Ann was a receptionist at St. Joseph Center (1994-96) and did substitute teaching and volunteered at St Bridget, Parma and Our Lady of Angels (1996-2003). From 2003 to 2015 Mary Ann was the director of the CSJ Prayer Line, a ministry which she really enjoyed. She considered her contact with people who depended on the prayers of the CSJ community to be a real gift.

Among Mary Ann’s fondest memories were her Golden and Diamond Jubilees, when community, family, friends, and former students came together to celebrate her commitment to religious life. The care and friendship of the people in her life supported her in her ministry. She considered herself blessed to be a teacher and her heart and prayers were always with the children and their parents.

Mary Ann expressed appreciation to community for their continued support in her call to religious life and was filled with happiness and gratitude to God for His bountiful blessings. Loving God, we are thankful for our Sr. Mary Ann who responded to your call to community and to a life of service. We pray that she may enter the fullness of your love.

Family and friends will gather for a visitation at St. Joseph Center 3430 Rocky River Dr. On Saturday, February 3 at 2:00 p.m. with a video and memories at 2:30 p.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 3:30 p.m. Burial immediately following at St. Joseph Cemetery.

Posted on: February 2, 2024