Dominican Sister of Peace Sister Mary Irene Lolli died at Mohun Health Care Center, Columbus, OH, on Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018.
Sister Irene (Mary Julia) was born on April 27, 1925, to Irene Pachioli and Sante Lolli of Strafford, PA. She entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine Di Ricci, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace, in 1952.
Sr. Irene had a great love of learning and study. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies/Sociology from the College of St. Rose and her Master of Theological Studies from the Franciscan School of Theology. She expanded her knowledge by studying other disciples at numerous institutes and workshops, including the Dominican School of Spirituality and the Catholic University of America.
Much of Sr. Irene’s active ministry was spent serving the spiritual needs of others as a DRE, Pastoral Minister, and as a staff member at retreats in Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Michigan and New Mexico. She also served on the Leadership team of her founding congregation for 10 years. She was a lover of history, and a great admirer of Lucy Eaton Smith, the founder of the de Ricci congregation.
In her preaching for Sr. Irene’s service, Sr. Anne Lythgoe remembered her ability to be present, to engage with a single person. Perhaps this was part of her gift to her spiritual ministry. Even after she became ill, she took great pleasure in the company of her friends and her community.
Sr. Irene is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Louis and her sisters, Angela Vidinsky, and Rosemary DeSanto. She is survived by her brother, Lawrence, her sister Lucy Rankin and nieces and nephews.
A vigil of Remembrance Service was held on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel, Columbus, OH. The funeral liturgy was held at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel on Thursday, April 5. Sr. Irene was buried in Strafford, PA.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Irene’s memory may be sent to:
Dominican Sisters of Peace
Office of Mission Advancement
2320 Airport Dr.
Columbus, OH, 43219
or submitted securely at www.oppeace.org.
To view and download a PDF of Sr. Irene's memorial, click here.