Obituary of Sister Philomena E. 'Rita' Duchscherer

The death of Sister Philomena E. 'Rita' Duchscherer (Sr. Rita Carmel) occurred at her residence, Ruth Ross Residence, on Monday, August 2, 2004. Sister was born in Cululia, Romania, a daughter of the late Francis M. and Anna (Jahner) Duchscherer, and was the eldest of ten children. Sister Rita entered the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception on July 2, 1933 and celebrated the milestone of seventy years of religious life in July of 2003. Sister served most of her religious life in Food Service, having served at various locations including St. Peter's Convent, Saint John, St. Dunstan's Convent, Fredericton, Mount Carmel Convent, Saint John, St. Vincent's Infant's Home, Saint John, St. Joseph's Hospital, Radway, Alberta, and St. Joseph's Hospital Saint John. Sr. Rita moved to Prince Albert, Sask. in 1978 and served as pastoral visitor at Holy Family Hospital until she moved to Saskatoon in 1988 where the next ten years were dedicated to taking care of her elderly parents. In 1998 she moved to Vancouver, where she participated in the ministry and resided at Our Lady of the Way Convent until 2002 when she moved to St. Vincent's Hospital Convent in Vancouver. In the spring of 2003 Sister Rita returned to Saint John. She was pre-deceased by a brother, Ignatius Duchscherer. She is survived by six brothers, Joseph (Theresa) Duchscherer of Langley, B.C., Charles Duchscherer of Mistatine, Sask., Paul (Lillian) Duchscherer of Mistatine, Francis 'Frank' (Josephine) Duchscherer of Saskatoon, Henry (Bonnie) Duchscherer of Prince George, B.C., and Anthony (Edna) Duchscherer of Dauphin, Man.; two sisters, Mary (Arthur) Nagy of Mistatine, and Madeline (Joseph) Young of Saskatoon; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Resting at St. Vincent's convent, 31 Cliff St., with visiting on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Vincent's Chapel on Thursday morning at ten o'clock. Interment will take place in the Sisters of Charity Plot in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Vigil Prayer will be held in St. Vincent's Chapel on Wednesday evening at seven o'clock.