- February 19, 2021 Obituaries
(S. Daniel Therese)
January 23, 1944 – February 18, 2021
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Rita Moriarty who passed away on Feb. 18 at St. Andre Hospice in Aurora, Colorado. She was 77 years of age.
Sister Rita was born on January 23, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Daniel and Theresa (Ryan) Moriarty. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1964 and was received into the novitiate in 1965 as Sister Daniel Therese. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Fontbonne College in 1969 and a master’s degree in religious studies from Seattle University in 1976.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Sister Rita taught at Holy Cross Grade School in Champaign, Illinois, St. Anthony of Padua Grade School in St. Louis, and was principal at St. Mary of the Assumption Grade School in Waco, Texas.
Beginning in 1976, Sister Rita devoted most of her ministry to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Denver, Colorado, serving as a pastoral assistant and director of religious education.
In 2002, she returned to St. Louis to serve her CSJ community as provincial councilor for six years. At the end of her term, she went back to her ministry at St. Francis de Sales to mark nearly 30 years of service there.
Sister Rita retired to Aurora in 2014, where she carried out her mission of prayer and presence until her passing.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899. Donate online.