SINSINAWA — Sr. Mary Jane Para, OP, died September 16, 2015, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green. The funeral Mass was held in the Gathering Place chapel at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Sept. 21, 2015, followed by burial in the motherhouse cemetery.
Sister Mary Jane made her first religious profession as a Dominican Sisters of Speyer, Germany, at Kettle Falls, Wash., June 8, 1954, and her final profession August 4, 1958. The Kettle Falls congregation became the Dominicans of Spokane in 1986 and merged with the Sinsinawa Dominicans in 1995. Sister Mary Jane served as a bookkeeper for 51 years: at the motherhouse, Kettle Falls, 1954-1964; Holy Family Hospital, Spokane, Wash., 1964-1977; Holy Family Convent, Spokane, 1977-1983; and Dominican Center, Spokane, 1983-2005. She was meticulous in her record keeping. Sister Mary Jane enriched community life at Dominican Center, Spokane, as well as the Sinsinawa motherhouse and St. Dominic Villa. She served in Washington and Wisconsin.
Sister Mary Jane was born May 27, 1916, in Othello, Wash., the daughter of John and Catherine (Tomatis) Para. Her parents; a sister, Catherine “Kay” Bennison; two brothers, Tom Para and John Para, preceded her in death. She is survived by two sisters, Elvena Tam and Frances Danielson; nieces; nephews; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 61 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 Cty. Rd. Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate Now,” then “Honors and Memorials.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Mary Jane are available online at www.Sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.