Sister Rita DeFlavia, a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who served in the Diocese of Camden for almost 60 years, died July 21 at her religious community in Palermo, Italy, where she had been living the past two years. She was 80.
“We are most grateful for Sister Rita’s years of ministry in our Diocese that touched, with the love of God, the lives of countless people,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan said upon hearing of her death. “May she rest from her labors in a well-deserved peace, and may her FMIHM sisters be comforted by our faith in eternal life.”
A native of the island country of Malta, Sister Rita began her ministry in the Diocese of Camden in 1965, after serving briefly in Italy. She worked in Catholic schools across South Jersey, including as a teacher at Holy Saviour School, Westmont, and as a teacher and principal at Saint Jude Regional School, Blackwood. She also served as superior while in Blackwood.
Most recently, she worked in parish ministry at Our Lady of Peace, Williamstown.
She resided with her community in Glassboro before moving to Palermo.
In a statement announcing Sister Rita’s death, her religious community said, “She is remembered by most everyone who has known her, including we, her religious sisters, as being a kind, caring and giving sister, both humble and joyful.”
Priests in the Diocese of Camden reflected on Sister Rita’s lasting impact in parishes and schools.
“She was beloved by the people,” said Father Cadmus Mazzarella, pastor of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, Wildwood.
Father Mazzarella came to know Sister Rita when he was pastor of Saint Bridget Parish, Glassboro, when her community moved there and began working in the school and parish. When he became pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Williamstown, Father Mazzarella asked Sister Rita to join him as parish pastoral assistant.
As a religious “joyful in the Franciscan spirit,” he said, Sister Rita worked closely with the parish’s sick and homebound as well as nursing home residents. In addition, she was always willing to lend a hand in other parish activities and ministries as needed, such as the parish carnival. Her presence touched many in the parish, he said.
Father Joseph Szolack, pastor of Blackwood’s Our Lady of Hope Parish, has known Sister Rita for 40 years, beginning when he was in the seminary. He said he always valued “our talk on spiritual matters. She was serious about her spiritual life and living her religious vows. I appreciated her gentle, calming serenity. She was a wonderful person; it was a privilege to know her.”
Father Terry Odien, a retired priest of the Diocese of Camden, was pastor at Holy Saviour Parish during Sister Rita’s time teaching at the school. He recalled “a beautiful soul [who was] wonderful with the students. … She embodied the spirit of Saint Francis: graceful, hospitable and welcoming.”
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