Dominican Sister of Peace M. Loyola (Coletta) Ernst, OP, died at the Regina Health Care Center, Richmond, OH, on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at the age of 95.
Sr. Loyola was born Marie Coletta on February 18, 1923, to Caroline Lind and Albert A. Ernst of Apple Creek, OH. The youngest of seven siblings, Sr. Loyola was introduced to community life at an early age.
When she entered the community of the Dominican Sisters of Akron in 1940, she wrote in her letter requesting profession, "I choose this vocation to please God alone, and I hope and pray that He will be pleased with my choice."
Sr. Loyola earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Saint John College in 1950. She later earned her Master of Science in Education from the same institution in 1968. Throughout her professional life, Sr. Loyola attended workshops and institutes so that she could keep up with the changing trends in education. She truly believed that teaching was the ministry where she believed she could best do God’s will, by shaping the minds and hearts of children.
In her 55 years as an educator, Sr. Loyola ministered to thousands of children and their families. She served at numerous schools in Ohio, including St. Paul, St. Augustine, Immaculate Conception and, of course, her own alma mater, Our Lady of the Elms. After her retirement, she returned to Our Lady of the Elms High School as an aide, where she served for 13 years.
Given her love of the children that she taught, there is no doubt that many of them were remembered as Sr. Loyola continued her ministry of prayer and presence at the Akron Motherhouse and the Regina Health Center.
Sr. Loyola was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Francis, Lynn and Charles, and her sisters, Alice Emerson, Marjorie Tinsler and Lillian. She is survived by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Sr. Loyola was remembered at her wake at the Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse on Friday, May 25. Mass of Resurrection was celebrated on Saturday, May 26. Sr. Loyola is interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron, OH.
Memorials in honor of Sr. Loyola may be submitted securely online or sent to:
Dominican Sisters of Peace
2320 Airport Drive
Columbus, OH 43219-2098
To download a printable copy of this memorial, please click here.