SISTER MARY LAMANTIA
1921-2007

Fred and Mary (LoCoco) LaMantia were the parents of fifteen children. Ten survived to adulthood. Three of their daughters became Adrian Dominicans—Dorothy (Sister Francis Michael), Josephine (Sister Philip Marie), and Mary (Sister John Agnes). Both older sisters preceded Sister Mary in death—Sister Dorothy in 1980 and Sister Josephine in 2005.

Both parents were born in Termini, Italy, and at an early age came with their families to America, where they settled on the south side of Chicago in an area populated by other Italian and German immigrants. Devout Catholics, these immigrants built St. Mary Incarnata Church. After their marriage, Fred and Mary LaMantia remained in that area. Sister Mary was born to them on January 15, 1921, and named for her mother.

Fred LaMantia was a wholesale fruit and vegetable dealer, with an office in Southwater Market. Two of his children worked with him—Michael and Agnes. Sister Mary wrote that her father was generous, and often gave fruit to cousins and to the sisters at St. Columbanus.

She wrote also that her mother was very religious. She belonged to the Third Order of St. Francis and attended daily Mass, after which she made the Stations of the Cross and prayed the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The family said the Rosary after supper, and on Sundays listened to Bishop Sheen on the radio. Of their home life, Sister Mary wrote:

We had a happy home life. Every Sunday we went to my grandma’s for dinner. Grandma couldn’t feed all of us, so my Mom would always bring the food. On the way home, Dad always stopped and got us an ice cream treat.

Birthdays were a big event in our home . . . Mom always baked a special cake for us and she also decorated the dining room with streamers. We received a gift from each family member.

The LaMantia children began their education at St. Mary Incarnata School. As the family grew and a larger home became necessary, they moved into St. Columbanus Parish. Mary was three years of age at the time. There the youngsters attended St. Columbanus School with the Adrian Dominicans, and the girls progressed to Mercy High School.

In 1932, when Mary was eleven years old, her sister Josephine entered the congregation at Adrian. In 1935, when Mary was fourteen, her sister Dorothy entered. Dorothy was the oldest, but she had given up for a time her desire of becoming a religious in order to work and help with family finances. As soon as her aid was no longer urgently needed, she felt free to follow her dream. The parents felt honored to have two daughters in God’s service.

Every three years, at the end of the summer, the two Dominican daughters arrived together at the family home for a week’s visit. Mary eagerly looked forward to their coming. She wrote, “They were both so happy in their vocation, and I knew the Lord was calling me to religious life, too.” She graduated from Mercy High School in June 1939, but worked for three years before she answered God’s call. When she told her parents of her wish to enter religious life, they were happy to give a third daughter to the Church.

Mary was twenty-two years old when, on September 20, 1943, she accepted the postulant’s veil in Adrian. At the wake, Sister Rosemary Conlon remembered those years.

Mary LaMantia and I . . . boarded a train in Chicago bound for Adrian, Michigan. Mary’s mother already had two of her daughters in the Adrian Dominicans. She prepared us by having her seamstress make our postulant outfits. We wore them with great pride. With this event, we began our journey together and, with fourteen other postulants, we developed our “crowd” with a bond that is still strong today.

Mary received the habit and her religious name (Sister John Agnes) on August 17, 1944, and began the required canonical novitiate year that ended in the profession of first vows on August 18, 1945

At the time of her profession Sister Mary received what she considered a privilege. Her two sisters were scheduled to visit home that year, and Mother Mary Gerald Barry gave Sister Mary permission to accompany them. So the LaMantia family joyfully welcomed the three of them then, and every three years thereafter.

Most of Sister Mary’s assignments kept her in the Midwest. The first eleven years were in Michigan, teaching mostly on the primary level: almost eight years at St. Augustine School in Detroit, over a year at St. Luke in Flint, and two years at St. Lawrence in Utica. In February 1952, she and her two sisters attended the funeral of their mother, and consoled their bereaved father and the rest of the family.

In 1956, Sister Mary was sent to Sacred Heart School in Solen, North Dakota, for three years where she taught primary and middle grade students. These were her only years outside the Midwest. She returned to Michigan for six years, assigned for two years to St. Isadore in Mount Clemens and four years to St. Clement in Romeo. About these years she wrote:

Romeo is known for peach orchards. We would invite the sisters from Detroit to come and pick as many peaches as they wanted. Dominican High would send their girls. . . . The people who owned the orchards said we could pick all we wanted. They were very kind to us.

She was transferred to Sacred Heart in New Bavaria, Ohio, in 1965, where she was principal, superior of the house, and taught junior high students. In 1968 she became ill, and was relieved of administration. Surgery and recuperation were necessary. The war in Vietnam was being waged at this time and her nephew was killed, but to her sorrow her doctor thought it best that she not attend the funeral.

In fall 1968 she began her teaching assignments in Illinois, where she ministered for fourteen years. For two years she taught at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Chicago. Sister Dorothy also taught there and Sister Josephine was missioned nearby. Sister Mary wrote that her father frequently took the three of them out to dinner. “We would have an enjoyable time with my dad.” Their father died in 1972, and the three sisters treasured the memory of the good years they had shared with him.

When she left Chicago, Sister Mary spent six years at Our Lady of Loretto in Hometown, three years at Visitation in Elmhurst, and three years at Queen of Apostles in Riverdale. The death of Sister Dorothy in 1980 brought another time of sadness to her.

During the summer of 1982, she took a course in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). That year she left the classroom and began fifteen years of ministry in pastoral care at St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond, Indiana. At the wake, Sister Mary’s sister, Rose Neary, told a humorous story.

She asked an older gentleman patient if she could stop in his room for a short visit. He became agitated and said, “No, I’m not a religious person.” Sister Mary said, “That’s OK. I just want to watch the ball game with you for a few minutes.” They enjoyed a wonderful afternoon, and she spent many afternoons with him watching baseball games. They developed a great friendship.

In 1997 Sister Mary retired, lived at St. Catherine Alexandria Convent in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and volunteered at a nursing home. At the wake, Sister Joella Miller spoke of those years. “I lived with her there for six very happy years. She was a joy to live with, always helpful and willing to do anything for you. I love her and will miss her.”

In 2000 Sister Mary returned to the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, lived for a year in Regina Residence, then moved to the Maria Building where she remained until her death in June 2007. During her last years, she was a member of the sisters’ choir and faithfully visited her ill sister Josephine. Sister Josephine’s death in 2005 was hard for her to bear.

A wake-remembrance service was held for Sister Mary in St. Catherine Chapel on July 1. Sister Joan Sustersic, Prioress of Holy Rosary Mission Chapter, was unable to be present, so Sister Mary Pat Dewey, her assistant, opened the service and extended sympathy to those present: Sister Mary’s sisters Rose Neary, Ann Jacques and her husband Joe; her brother Philip; and her numerous Dominican friends. Sister Mary Pat summarized Sister Mary’s life and ministry, and spoke of her final years.

Prayer was her constant companion. . . . Although timid, she spoke for herself. She loved being in the choir and enjoyed singing at the Masses. Her arthritis plagued her for years, and her feet gave her problems. Pain was another companion, but she rarely complained. Last year, she experienced a vision problem, and agreed to have surgery. Fortunately, her vision cleared.

Just recently, she had a fall in which she fractured her pelvis and injured her elbow. After successful surgery on the elbow, she returned to the DLC. She appeared to be doing much better, was up eating and getting around. But then her condition changed. She was in much more pain, and it was difficult getting that under control. She expressed her gratitude to the sisters for doing small things and for their friendship, to the nurses for all their help, and asked that God be merciful to her, take her home. Truly, she was a deeply spiritual woman.

Sister Ann Herringer, a member of Sister Mary’s “crowd,” sent a fax that was read. She wrote in part:

After a full life poured out with dedication and love in the service of the Lord, Sister Mary has certainly won the race. Aside from all that she did in the various ministries that she undertook, more importantly I saw Sister Mary as a gentle, kind, and thoughtful person. She reached out to all whom she saw in need. I think she saw Christ in the faces of those who crossed her path.

Sister Rosemary Conlon shared remembrances.

This evening, as we remember and celebrate the life that Sister Mary shared with us, I am so privileged to have been one closely associated with her over these sixty-four years. We did, indeed, share faith and life with one another as our Mission Statement calls us to do. Some of these special celebrations were occasions for us to share our families with one another as well.

One of my special remembrances of Mary here is the times we set aside after daily Mass. We lived in different buildings, so we made this time just to sit and share our thoughts with one another. These special moments deepened our friendship and will be missed. When I think of Mary, I remember her as a very special friend who didn’t do extraordinary things, but who lived her life faithful to God, the Church, and her community. She loved her family and her friends.

Sister Mary’s sister, Rose Neary, spoke for the family.

Our family is grateful to all the doctors, nurses, her chaplain Sister Rosemary Asaro, and all the sisters who gave Mary such loving care. She entered the convent with Sister Rosemary Conlon, and all of us consider Sister Rosemary as one of our family. She and Sister Elizabeth Clare [Schindler] were with her during her last moments, and we are so grateful to them and all the other sisters who were so kind to her.

Sister Joella Miller, who celebrated her Golden Jubilee this year, also shared.

Sister Mary LaMantia was more than a good friend to me—she was a consulter and consoler. She was a person I could always count on to have a beautiful smile and a twinkle in her eye, and to give good advice.

My sister Pat asked me to say something for her. Sister Mary and Pat wrote to each other often for years. Their friendship began while I lived at St. Catherine of Alexandria. Pat wanted to learn to crochet and had tried to learn many times. Her big problem was that she was left handed. She saw Sister Mary crocheting one day while visiting and told Mary her story. Mary, who was also left handed, said, “You sit right down here and I will teach you to crochet.” By the time her visit was over, Pat knew how to crochet. This is a hobby that Pat enjoys and does nearly every day, thanks to Mary.

Pat was here when I celebrated my Jubilee, and she and I went to visit Mary. It was a good day for Mary, and she was very happy to see Pat. Pat was very upset to see Mary so ill, but Mary, in her own beautiful way, told her she would be all right, and asked Pat to pray for her. Pat will miss her good friend’s letters.

Father Roland Calvert, OSFS, was the presider and homilist at Sister Mary’s funeral liturgy on July 2. Father reminded the assembly that “Sister Mary has returned to the Lord whom she served for sixty-two years as an Adrian Dominican,” and that she is not only with God, but also united with the loved ones who preceded her. No doubt, Sisters Dorothy and Josephine were in the forefront of the family waiting to receive Sister Mary.

Sister Mary LaMantia was eighty-six years of age when God took her home to eternity on June 28, 2007.