Sister Rita Marie Ferschweiler
March 16, 1918 - April 25, 2020
Obituary
(Sister Mary Laureen)
Sister Rita Marie Ferschweiler, SP, age 102, a Sister of Providence for 76 years, died April 25, 2020, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Wash. The dates and times of the vigil and funeral service are pending. Bonney Watson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Sister Rita was born in St. Louis, Ore., to Lawrence Ferschweiler and Marie Rubens on March 16, 1918, the year that marked the beginning of the Spanish flu pandemic. She was the eldest of six children, and grew up milking cows and picking hops and berries.
Sister Rita entered the Sisters of Providence in November 1942 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, Wash., and in May 1943, she became a novice. In November 1944 she professed first vows and received the name Sister Mary Laureen. In November 1952 she professed final vows.
Sister Rita graduated in 1935 from Mount Angel Academy, Mount Angel, Ore. She completed nursing school in 1948 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Yakima, Wash., a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Seattle University in 1957, and was then sent to St. Louis University for a master’s degree in nursing service administration. In May 2012, she received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Portland, Ore.
Sister Rita served from 1948-84 primarily as a medical-surgical nurse and administrator. In Washington: Providence Hospital, Seattle; St. Joseph Hospital, Vancouver; St. Elizabeth Hospital, Yakima; St. Peter Hospital, Olympia. In Alaska: St. Joseph Hospital, Fairbanks. In Oregon: St. Vincent Hospital. Sr. Rita was the last Sister of Providence to serve as an administrator of this Portland hospital. She also ministered in pastoral care at St. Peter Hospital, 1976-77, and St. Vincent Hospital, 1983-84. Sister Rita served as a member of the Provincial Council of Sacred Heart Province, 1985-91. From 1991-97, Sister Rita ministered as the sister representative for Providence St. Peter Hospital and Mother Joseph Care Center, Olympia, Wash.
In the fall of 2011, Sister Rita moved to St. Joseph Residence, Seattle. She was the recipient of many awards during her nursing and administration ministries, including being named by The Oregon Journal as one of Oregon’s 10 women of accomplishment in 1971. In May 2012, Sister Rita was honored by Providence St. Vincent Hospital with a “Peace Garden” for her many years of dedicated ministry to the Providence medical community in Oregon. Her true joy came from relationships and helping others in need, including reading to those with failing eyesight.
Sister Rita is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Thomas and Cyril; and sisters, Doris and Rosemary. She is survived by her brother Lloyd and many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, M1-C, Renton, Washington, 98057. To view Sister Rita’s obituary with her picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at bonneywatson.com.
I am so sorry about loss of your love ones , I hope this bring comfort to the family.
In the book of John 5:28,29. Jesus promised a resurrection to life for everyone.
Betty kelly
Sister Rita was an inspiration at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. Her presence brought a peaceful air to every room. She contributed much to our hospital, especially as a constant reminder that ours was not simply a job but also a mission. She will be missed.
George Chappell, MD
Sister Rita was a bright spot in the day when she visited the floors. She was a non judgmental person, kind to all those she met..
What a wonderful life she had,
Sister Rita & her family are so well loved down here in Oregon where she grew up. Our oldest sister who is with the Holy Names nuns knew her before us, but we might have met her and know we met her sibblings years ago not realizing it. Their family has a small cemetery attached to the historic church. Our great grandmother, grand aunt, grandmother, parents, cousins & others are all buried there. When we got to know her best she was at Providence in NE Portland. She visited with our mother when she was in the hospital, I believe she came to her funeral, years later when dad was in the hospital she visited him and even walked to the nursing home to visit with him. When dad had passed away & was buried out at the old St Louis Cemetery she walked with us & asked how we got to be able to use the cemetery & we told her our family history there as well. I found a picture that was in an old Oregon historical book of kids playing by a school with one boy having the Ferschweiler name. I sent her a copy of it and she said yes, it was her dad as a young boy and pointed out her mother who was a young girl in this same photo. She knew others in the picture as well. We went to her cellebration before leaving here to return to Washington. We missed her big 100th birthday. She was in so many walks/races when she was down here and put us all to shame. What a vibrant woman she was. One of the last big surprises was with this obit that a friend in Washington saw it and mentioned her to others who knew her in fb. I just happened to see it. He did not say her name, but knew it had to be her. I learned later he had worked with her in Olympia. Not enough praises for this Saint called to Heaven. God Bless you & your family (birth family & Nuns) Sister Rita. Love from all of us Woodruff’s, Roxanne, Rita, Sandra, & Sue & our sister Rita’s daughter & her family.
St. Mary Laureen hired me when I went to work at St Vincent Hospital in 1963. I will never forget her! An amazing person.
Kathleen Leahy Hoff
My mother: Rita LeBrun – Gross grew up with Sister Rita in St Louis, Or and was very fond of her and following her career with Providence. My happiest memories of Sister Rita was her wonderful visits to me upon the births of my four daughters at St. Vincent’s Hospital in the 50’s & 60’s! She always had a marvelously energetic aura as well as a healing emissary of the Good Lord. One in a million blessed woman!
So sad to have heard this news. Sr. Rita was loved by all. I had the pleasure of working at her side during my 10 years at St. Peter as COO and then CEO. I recall a very funny thing she said once as we both overheard someone refer to “St. Peter’s Hospital.” Though the young man who said those words was at least a foot taller than Sr. Rita, she was clearly “looking down on him” when she instructed him that “St. Peter was neither plural nor was he possessive.” I think I told that story at every “New Employee Orientation” that I participated in!
I met Sister Mary Laureen in 1961 when, as a newcomer to Portland, she interviewed me for a part-time nursing position at the original St Vincent Hospital. I recall her kind and friendly manner. She was an effective and caring leader for nursing staff. I remember her gentle smile. May she rest in peace.
Sister Rita was an inspiration to me while working at Sisters of Providence. May she rest in peace. I will always remember her kindness to me and others.