Sister Mary Anne Leto, CHM, died July 1 at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston, Iowa, at the age of 87.
Sr. Leto was born Feb. 16, 1928, in Des Moines to Ignazio and Josephine Collo Leto. She entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1946 and professed vows in 1949. She earned a BA from Marycrest College in Davenport and an MSE from Drake University in Des Moines.
She taught elementary school at St. Mary, St. Joseph and St. Alphonsus in Davenport and Our Lady of Lourdes in Bettendorf. She also taught in Des Moines and in Montana. She worked as a nurse’s aide and in pastoral care at Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in Johnston for more than a decade and also served as director of activities. From 2000-2009 she served as coordinator of retired sisters’ services. She, herself, retired to Bishop Drumm in 2012 where she resided until her death. Family connections and contacts with the Italian community in Des Moines were very important to Sr. Leto.
She was intered at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Ottumwa. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Humility of Mary.
