JOHNSTON, Iowa — Sister Rosalia (Mary Andrew) Riedel, CHM, 99, died at Bishop Drumm Care Center in Johnston on Oct. 31.
Rosalia Louise Riedel was born Nov. 23, 1923 in Milford, Ohio to Dr. Ferdinand and Rosalia (Riehle) Riedel. She entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1945 and professed vows in 1948 as Sister Mary Andrew.
Sister earned an AA in elementary education from Ottumwa Heights College-Ottumwa and a BA from Marycrest College-Davenport. Decades later, she attended Scott Community College-Davenport, graduating as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Sister Rosalia began teaching in Centerville; then St. Leo, Lewistown, Montana; Lourdes Memorial, Bettendorf; St. Pius X, Rock Island, Illinois; and St. Mary, Albia. She then taught grade school and choir classes at St. Theresa, Des Moines; St. Mary, Oskaloosa; and Sacred Heart and St. Patrick in Ottumwa. Then she returned to Rock Island and Centerville and completed her teaching career at Lourdes in 1986. She served in evolving positions at Center for Aging Services, Inc. (CASI), in Davenport. Initially an assistant coordinator in 1986, she was a program facilitator when she retired in 1995.
In retirement, Sister Riedel remained active, serving as a volunteer in the CHM archives at the Humility of Mary Center-Davenport, for CASI, and at the Pleasant Street Convent.
Sister had moved frequently as a child because of her father’s work as a veterinarian, traveling between Ohio and Kentucky before moving to Ottumwa. As an adult, she traveled frequently on bus tours, pilgrimages, for workshops and for volunteer programs such as Seeds of Hope, visiting 22 states and Washington, D.C. between 1973 and 2002.
Visitation and a memorial service were held Nov. 6 at Bishop Drumm’s Our Lady of Peace Chapel. Visitation also was held Nov. 7 and a Mass of Christian Burial Nov. 8, both at Humility of Mary Center-Davenport. Internment followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery-Davenport.
Memorials may be made to the Congregation of the Humility of Mary
