News & Events / Obituaries / 2008 / Sr. Rita Ann Masse, OP

Sr. Rita Ann Masse, OP

May 22, 1922 – April 16, 2008

I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I shall live.
Psalm 23

On April 16, 2008, Sr. Rita Ann Masse died at Mohun Health Care Center.  She was born in Zanesville, OH, on May 22, 1922, to Frank and Julia (McCabe) Masse. She entered the Novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus in 1941 and made her Profession of Vows in 1943. 

Sr. Rita Ann earned a BS from St. Mary of the Springs College (now Ohio Dominican University) and an MA from Duquesne University.  Sister ministered at St. Aloysius, Wilmerding, PA (1943-45); St. Lawrence, Pittsburg, PA (1945-47); St. Mark, Brooklyn, NY (1947-49); St. Thomas, Braddock (1949-50); St. William. East Pittsburgh, PA (1950-51); St. Francis, Newark, OH  (1951-53, 65-68); Holy Name, Columbus, OH (1953-54); Sacred Heart, Coshocton, OH  (1954-56,  1957-60);  St. Anne, Santa Fe, NM (1956-57); Christ the King, Columbus (1960-63); St. Francis, McKees Rocks, PA (1963-65); St. Brendan, Braddock, PA (1968-69); St. Albert, Pittsburgh, PA (1969-71); St. Mary High School, New Haven, CT (1971-74); St. Clare, Grosse Pointe, MI (1974-77); and Catholic Central HS, Steubenville, OH (1977-1988). Sr. Rita Ann also taught at West Virginia No. Community College in Wheeling, WV (1988-90).

She retired and came to Mohun Health Care Center in 1990 where she served as sacristan/ secretary (1990-98) and performed community service at the Dominican Learning Center (1998-2003). Sister also ministered in Connecticut, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Sister was preceded in death by sisters Mary Louise Masse and Marjorie Powell. She is survived by two sisters, Dominican Sister Rita Agnes Masse of St. Mary of the Springs and Mrs. Patricia Sawyers of Zanesville, Ohio.  She is also survived by nieces and nephews: Timothy, Janet, Jody, Julie, Jackie, Thomas and Jeanne who are children of Dorothy Sawyers; and a niece, Kathy Huber, daughter of her sister Marjorie Powell.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Rita Ann's honor may be sent to Dominican Sisters, St. Mary of the Springs, 2320 Airport Drive, Columbus, OH 43219. For a convenient printable donation form, click here.