Sr. Maria Gri, Csjp Obituary (1914

Sister Maria Gri, CSJP: 1914 - 2014 Sister Maria Gri CSJP (Sister Raymond), a little woman with a big heart, died on December 27, 2014 in Bellevue, Washington. Sister Maria Gri was the second child of Italian immigrant parents. Recently, she shared memories of her childhood: "I was born on October 7, 1914, in the small mining town called Greenwood, in south central British Columbia. My father, Louis Gri arrived in Canada circa 1910. Shortly afterward, he sent for a lovely lady named Frances Cattaneo and they were married. My parents had five children. I have fond memories of growing up in the woods, enjoying the wild flowers and fruit trees. Winters were difficult, but we had fun, especially running home from school over the frozen snow." For most of her primary school years, Maria attended a one-room schoolhouse. Following the unexpected death of her father in November 1924, her mother was forced to move to Trail, B.C., where she supported the family making face pads for workers in the lead smelter. There, Maria attended Trail Central School. For high school, Maria's mother sent her to St. Joseph Academy in Nelson, B.C., where she received her education from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. Three years later, on July 16, 1932, she entered the CSJP Novitiate in Bellingham, Washington, where her older sister, Cecilia Marie, had already entered. The Novitiate was a time of intense prayer and work, during which Maria also completed her high school education, and then attended Seattle University (at that time "Seattle College"). There, she earned a B.S. in Philosophy, and later an Education Degree. Maria taught in many schools in both Washington State and British Columbia. In June 1972, Sister Maria retired from teaching and found work in the medical field as a clerk with PeaceHealth. She loved her work. In 1974, Maria moved to Longview, Washington, where she joined Cecilia Marie in an apartment, and began working as a clerk and secretary at St. John's Hospital. From that point on, the Gri sisters were inseparable. While Sister Cecilia Marie gave up her volunteer work at St. John's Hospital to take up full-time ministry for the homebound at their parish of St. Rose, Maria continued on at St. John's, and eventually cared for Cecilia Marie in their small house as her health declined. In 2012, after 39 years together in Longview, the Gri sisters moved to St. Mary-on-the-Lake in Bellevue, where they were lovingly cared for by their CSJP Sisters. Her dear sister Cecilia Marie died in 2013. In 2014 Sister Maria celebrated her 100th birthday, surrounded by many friends. The Vigil Service is Monday, January 5, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial is Tuesday, January 6th at 10:30 am. Both services are at St. Mary-on-the-Lake, Bellevue. Burial is January 6th at 1:30 pm, Holyrood Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace Retirement Fund, PO Box 248, Bellevue, WA 98009. Hoffner Fisher & Harvey