Sr. Mary Karla Fritz, OP

Springfield Dominican Sister Mary Karla Fritz, OP, 88, of Springfield, died on June 7, 2018 at St. Johns Hospital. She was born near Herscher, IL in 1930 and baptized Veronica Florence by her parents, Carl G. and Mary Anne Heimburger Fritz. She made her profession of vows in 1954 at Sacred Heart Convent. Sister M. Karla ministered nearly 30 years as a music educator in Illinois elementary schools throughout northern and central Illinois. In the 1970s, she was a principal, eighth grade teacher, and music teacher at Sacred Heart, Granite City. For five years, she also taught music at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights. From the mid-1980s until her retirement in 2014, she served in a variety of community ministries, including seven years as prioress and liturgist at Sacred Heart Convent, then later, as director of dietary services. She was liturgist and hospitality coordinator at the Dominican Sisters ecology and spirituality ministry sitesBenincasa and Jubilee Farm and remained active until her death. Sister M. Karla was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Aloysius and Francis; and sisters, Anna Rita Durand, Angela Beauchamp, and Mary Jane Inkster. She is survived by her sister, Colette Cheffer; her brother, Bernard Fritz; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation: 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 11, 2018 at Aquinas Center, Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service. Morning prayer and Funeral Mass: 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at the convent chapel with Father Peter Witchousky, OP, celebrant and Deacon Leon Fritz, assisting. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704.