Sister Maria Loracy

Sister Maria Loracy             ND 7031                  PDF Download

Loracy LEMOS

Holy Cross Province, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil

Date and Place of Birth:                  May 23, 1944                    Ernestina, RS
Date and Place of Profession:        February 10, 1970            Passo Fundo, RS
Date and Place of Death:                September 22, 2020        Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, P.Fundo, RS
Date and Place of Burial:                September 23, 2020        Casa Santa Cruz, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil

“Do whatever He tells you!” (Jn 2:5)

Loracy Lemos was the third of six siblings, born to Turino and Alfredina Werner Lemos. Her father was a building contractor and her mother took care of household chores. After finishing elementary school in her hometown, Loracy took a sewing and embroidery course in Espumoso. After that, for six years she worked for a family, a job where she could apply her practical knowledge in the care of the house and also take the time to discern her call to religious life. Later on, she attended a teacher training school in Passo Fundo and graduated in Practical Arts and Home Economics from Passo Fundo University. She also took a public exam for a teacher position and ministered in the field of education for her entire life.

Loracy made her postulancy and novitiate in Passo Fundo. Responsibility and dedication were her characteristics since the beginning of her religious and professional life. Sister M. Loracy served as local superior, teacher, vice principal and principal in schools in different cities in Brazil. For several years, Sister was also in charge of the candidates for religious life, being a positive presence and support for those young women, helping them overcoming the initial hardships of living together, assisting them in school activities and domestic chores and preparing them to take the next step in initial formation. Currently, we have several Sisters of Notre Dame who were part of these groups and, with Sister Maria Loracy, learned how to cultivate the virtues of unselfishness, asceticism, and love of neighbor. In addition, in every place Sister M. Loracy served she applied her culinary, sewing, and embroidery talents, as well as her knowledge for cultivating vegetable and flower gardens.

From 2009 to 2020, Sister did a wonderful job with the children at the Notre Dame Aparecida School in Carazinho, where she shared her leadership and approachability gifts, trying to engage parents in the development of their little, precious jewels. Sister M. Loracy´s co-sisters testify to her tireless efforts to fix the children’s toys, especially the dolls, so that they could enjoy playing and learning to the full. Sister M. Loracy was concerned about the welfare of everyone around her. Sister´s biblical motto inspired her in daily ministry. Mary, the Mother of Jesus was for her “the model for her daily surrender to the ever-new call of the Lord!” (Const. Art.12)

Sister M. Loracy´s relationship with her family was very intense and harmonious, thus her family members were a close presence during this time of Sister´s increasing fragility. For some time, Sister had not been feeling well. Some cardiac procedures had already been performed in 2019 as well as this year, Sister´s Golden Jubilee year. Nevertheless, Sister´s heart didn´t give her any respite. For this reason, she was admitted to the Notre Dame Hospital in Não-Me-Toque and from there was transferred to the cardiologic ICU (Intensive Care Unit) of the São Vicente de Paulo Hospital, in Passo Fundo. Unfortunately, the doctors weren´t able to help her since her arteries were calcified.

On September 22, Sister M. Dirce, our provincial superior, visited Sister in the afternoon, blessing her and assuring her of the prayer and support of all the sisters. On that same day, at 9 p.m., Sister M. Loracy returned home to God. May Sister M. Loracy intercede for our schools, children and future vocations.