February 22, 1938 – September 11, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Rita Anne Scherrei, CSJ, who died peacefully on September 11, 2026 at St. John of God Care Center in Los Angeles.
Rita was born on February 22, 1938 in Los Angeles. She enjoyed a life in sunny Santa Monica with her three brothers. She excelled at St. Clement School and Bishop Conaty High School. Two teachers who were Sisters of St. Joseph stood out to her, and she saw how the sisters interacted and loved one another. “It gave me my vocation on a platter. It was a great thing for me,” she said. She was received into the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in March 1956.
During her years of ministry, she became passionate about peace and justice issues and embraced the admonition: “Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.” In 1973, she requested a dispensation from her vows, but her incredible journey led her back to our community, and she pronounced her vows again in 2018; our sisters shared her joy and rejoiced in her return!
A summary of her life might say: Rita found Christ as the center of her life, the joy of her heart, and the answer to her yearnings.
May she rest in peace.