Obituary of Mary Rita Golias

GOLIAS - Sister Mary Rita Golias CSA, 89, a resident of Nazareth Court in Fond du Lac, Wis., died Saturday, July 30, 2005, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac. Sister Mary Rita was born Aug. 11, 1915, in Utahville, Pa., a daughter of Wendell and Mary Elizabeth Poshedly Golias. In 1930, she entered the Congregation of St. Agnes in Fond du Lac from her home in Nanty Glo, Pa., professing her vows on Aug. 15, 1934. Sister Mary Rita taught in elementary and secondary schools in Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York. She taught at St. Mary's School in Altoona, Pa., from 1969 to 1970 and at Bishop Guilfoyle High School in Altoona from 1970 to 1979. After 46 years, Sister retired from the field of education. Then she continued to share God's love through a variety of ministries in New York City, Pennsylvania and Indiana. Throughout the 1990s, Sister volunteered in Altoona at St. Mary's School and parish, as well as Marian Manor. She also volunteered at her home parish of St. Mary's in Nanty Glo. Sister Mary Rita retired to Nazareth Court in Fond du Lac in 1999. Survivors include her brothers, Thomas of Altoona; Alfred of Parma, Ohio; Bernard (Phyllis) of Hinckley, Ohio; and Wendell of San Antonio, Texas; her sisters, Cecilia (Herman) Kessler of Altoona and Mary Rita Diaz of Altoona; many nieces and nephews; and members of the Congregation of St. Agnes, with whom she lived and ministered. Sister Mary Rita was preceded in death by three brothers: Andrew, Stephen and Msgr. John B. Golias, and two sisters, Ann Barr and Helen Martous. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Fond du Lac on Friday, Aug. 5, 2005. Burial will be in Fond du Lac.