Sr. Mary Zita Paradis

Sr. Mary Zita Paradis, o.s.u. Irene Murielle Paradis, 89, passed away at St. Mary's d'Vouville Pavilion, Lewiston, Maine, on February 8,2013. Irene was born in Auburn, Maine on November 8, 1923, the daughter of Edgar Paradis and Josephine Simoneau Paradis. The family moved to Lewiston following the loss of their property and belongings when Old Auburn burned down in the 1930's, and Irene completed her elementary education at St. Mary's Ursuline School on Oxford Street. Following her eighth grade graduation in 1940, Irene remained close to her former Ursuline teachers, and in 1944 entered the Ursuline Novitiate in Waterville, Maine. She received the religious name Mary Zita and pronounced her vows of religion in 1947. Having chosen a life of service to community, Mary Zita remained faithful to this ministry throughout her life, serving the following communities in Maine: Waterville, Brunswick, Lewiston, and Dedham, Massachusetts, mainly as cook and community driver, retiring at Mount St Joseph Care Facility in Fairfield, Maine in 2005, and later transferring to St. Mary's d'Vouville Pavilion, Lewiston, in March, 2008. Sr. Mary Zita is survived by her loving and devoted niece, Barbara Bizier and husband, Robert, as well as several grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, by two sisters, Josephine Turner and Yvonne Turgeon, and brothers John and Roland. The Ursuline Sisters and Sister's surviving family members wish to thank the staff at St. Mary's d'Vouville Pavilion, 4 West, and that of the Androscoggin Hospice, for their devoted care for Sr. Zita.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com . Notice Paradis- Died in Lewiston Friday February 8, 2013. Sr. Mary Zita Paradis age 89 a resident of Lewiston. A Funeral Mass honoring Sr. Mary’s life will be celebrated on Friday at 11:00 AM at the Marguerite d’Youville Chapel with Reverend Joseph Manship officiating. Committal services will be held later in the spring at the Ursuline Sisters’ Cemetery in Waterville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ursuline Sisters' Retirement Fund at the following address: Ursuline Sisters Retirement Fund, 100 Campus Avenue, Apt. 211, Lewiston, Maine 04240. Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:30 AM till the time of service at the Marguerite d’Youville Chapel. Arrangements by the Pinette & Lynch Funeral Home 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, Lewiston 784-4023.