Sister Suarez
Alton |
Sister Lourdes Suarez aka Maria de Lourdes Suarez , died peacefully on Sunday April 14, 2013 at the Ursuline Queen of Peace Healthcare Center in Alton, Illinois. The daughter of Manuel Suarez Carreno and Eloisa Gaston de Suarez, both of Havana, Cuba, she was born September 19, 1937, in Havana, Cuba. She is survived by all thirteen siblings: Brothers: Jorge Suarez, Xavier Suarez, Charlie Suarez, Melchor Suarez, Manolito Suarez, and Fernando Suarez. Sisters: Teresa Bernardo, Eulalia Mooney, Margarita Suarez, Eloisa Hildalgo, Manela Diez, Rosa Maria Garcia and Maria Dolores Hamm.
Sister Lourdes received her elementary and secondary education in Havana at Sacred Heart School and then entered the Ursuline novitiate there in January of 1955. She made her first vows in January of 1956 and with the rising to power of Fidel Castro, left Cuba for safety in the United States in 1960 to attend the College of New Rochelle in New York for her under graduate education, finishing with a degree in Spanish. From the Catholic University of Peru, she earned another Bachelor’s degree in 1965 and a doctorate from the Catholic University of Peru in 1973. She was also an accomplished pianist with an exquisite voice.
Her teaching career led her to Mexico City, Mexico; Lima, Peru; and New Orleans, Louisiana. She moved to Queen of Peace Ursuline Healthcare Center in Alton, Illinois in 2003 where she lived until her death.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 10 am at the Ursuline Convent Chapel, 845 Danforth Street, Alton, Illinois. Visitation will precede this Mass beginning at 9 am. Rev. Thomas Horan, OMI, will preside.
Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Godfrey.
Memorials may be made to the Queen of Peace Healthcare Center, 845 Danforth Street, Alton, Illinois, 62002.
Staten-Fine Funeral Home in Alton will be taking care of the arrangements with the Ursuline Sisters.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.staten-fine.com
Staten, Fine & Burke Funeral Home
