Maryknoll, NY: Maryknoll Sister, Sr. Mary Dolores Mitch, M.M. died on June 30th, 2022 in San Diego, CA. She was 85 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 62 years.
Dolores was born on January 9th, 1937 in Missoula, MT, to Ernest Mitch and Anna (Kering) Mitch. She had three brothers, Arnold, Joseph and Ernest and one sister, Anne Elizabeth, all of whom have pre-deceased her.
In 1955 Dolores graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula, MT and later that year studied at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. From 1957-1958 she studied at Montana State University and entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at Valley Park, MO on December 30th, 1958 (from her home parish, St. Francis Xavier in the Diocese of Helena, MT).
She made her First Profession of Vows on August 22th, 1961 in Valley Park, MO and her Final Profession of Vows on August 22nd, 1967 in the Philippines. From 1962 – 1963, she attended classes at Fordham University in NYC, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English while also teaching at Mary Rogers College located at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.
In 1963 Sister Dolores received her first overseas mission assignment to the Philippines where she taught Religion and English at Our Lady of the Rosary School in Lipa City until 1967. She then transferred to the Maryknoll High School in Santo Tomás/Davao del Norte to teach. From 1969 -1974, she worked in administration at Santo Tomás while also studying for a Master’s Degree in Education at Ateneo De Manila University.
She then returned to the U.S. to serve in the Congregation’s Development Department doing mission education and promotion work in Chicago and the Mid-West until 1976. Sister Dolores returned to the Philippines in 1977 to serve as Supervisor of Teacher Training at Notre Dame University in Cotabato City until 1980. From 1980 -1984, she worked at Notre Dame of Jolo, as Chairperson of the Education Department and taught English and Psychology. She then served in Davao City from 1984-1989 on the staff of the Sisters Association in Mindanao and as Executive Secretary.
In 1990 Sister Dolores returned to the U.S. to serve in the Congregation’s Development Department once again doing mission education and promotion work but this time on the West Coast until 1993. After a short period of renewal and study at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY Sister Dolores returned to the Philippines in 1994 where she led journal workshops in Quezon City and Baguio City until 2005.
In 2006, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she worked in the Congregational Vocation Office. She was then assigned as Communications Manager for the Development Department in 2007 and served in this role until 2011 when she retired. While retired she spent her time providing aid to the elderly and infirm Sisters at the Center.
In 2013 Sister Dolores relocated to the Maryknoll Sisters Retirement Home in Monrovia, CA where she remained active with volunteer work until her death.
Funeral Services:
A Vesper Service will be held on Wednesday, July 27th, 2022, at 4:15 p.m. Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.
A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, July 28th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.