January 22, 1926 – September 28, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Josefa Therese Lee, who died peacefully on September 28, 2026 at St. John of God Retirement Home in Los Angeles. She was 100 years old.
Josefa was born in San Francisco on January 22, 1926. With her older sister Edna, she attended Chinese grade school and high school there. Her mother died when Josefa was one year old, and she was raised by her grandmother.
Sister Josefa entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1951 after one semester at Mount St. Mary’s College. In 2022, she quietly and gratefully celebrated her 70th Jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph.
Sister Josefa’s first mission was at St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson, Arizona, where she served in the Central Supply Department. This experience prepared her to become Supervisor of Central Supply at Daniel Freeman Hospital, where she ministered for 16 years. Josefa cultivated many talents and used them generously in service to others. As a licensed cosmetologist, she served the sisters in her hair salon at Carondelet Center for nearly 40 years.
She was soft-spoken and expressed her opinions with gentleness and grace. She had a deep prayer life and lived with a constant awareness of God’s loving presence.
She truly enjoyed marking 100th birthday in January with her many friends from her years in ministry and the CSJ community. In her final years at St. John of God, she maintained a quiet, faithful presence at every gathering and was often seen right at the front of the chapel for daily Mass and alone in the chapel for her sacred time there.
We will share funeral details here when arrangements are made.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Los Angeles Province, 1119 Westchester Place, Los Angeles, CA 90019 or donate online.
May she rest in peace.