Sister Zetta LaVallee, who taught primar - School Sisters of Notre ...

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Phyllis Brill, Director of Communications410-377-7774 Ext. 1164pbrill@amssnd.orgFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESister Zetta LaVallee, SSND,teacher for 40 years, minister to elderlyWILTON, Conn. -- Sister Zetta LaVallee, who taught primary and junior high school formore than 40 years before taking on parish ministry and companioning the elderly, diedat Lourdes Health Care Center in Wilton, Conn., on Sept. 21, 2011. She had turned 90just two days earlier. Sister Zetta ministered at parish schools in Pennsylvania and NewJersey, but spent the majority of her life in Florida, atparishes in Temple Terrace and Venice, Fla.Mary Jacqueline LaVallee was born on Sept. 19,1921, in Moosup, Conn. She entered the SchoolSisters of Notre Dame in August 1939 from St. Johnthe Evangelist in Watertown, Conn. She was giventhe religious name Mary Zetta and made her firstvows in August 1943. She earned a bachelor’sdegree in education in 1962 from what is now NotreDame of Maryland University in Baltimore.Sister Zetta’s teaching career began in 1943 at St.John the Evangelist in Bergenfield, N.J. She servedthere six years before being assigned to St.Margaret Mary School in Harrisburg, Pa. (1949-61),where she taught primary grades for 12 years. In 1961, she was assigned to Our Ladyof Perpetual Help in Tampa, Fla. (1961-64), and in 1964 she moved to AnnunciationSchool in West Hollywood, Fla. (1964-66). After a year at St. Leo School in Fairfax, Va.,she was named principal in 1967 at Corpus Christi School in Temple Terrace, Fla. Shecontinued as a teacher and administrator there for 10 years.In 1977, Sister Zetta began what would be a three-decade ministry at Epiphany parishin Venice, Fla., where she served initially as school principal (1977-86). After retiringfrom education, Sister Zetta stayed on at Epiphany, conducting parish ministry andcompanioning the aged for nearly 20 years. In 2008 she moved to Villa Notre Dame,home to retired School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton, Conn. She died at Lourdes, thenursing care center adjacent to Villa Notre Dame.Sister Zetta is survived by two sisters, Alice Haggerty of New Rochelle, N.Y., andMargaret Lowrey of Madison, Conn.; a brother, Ted LaVallee of Gainesville, Ga.; andseveral nieces and nephews.6401 N. Charles St. ~ Baltimore, Md. 21212410-377-7774 ~ www.amssnd.org

Memorial contributions may be made to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Atlantic-Midwest Province, Mission Advancement Office, 345 Belden Hill Road, Wilton, CT.,06897. (800) 993-7763.###