Date of death: 8/10/2015

Saint Meinrad Class: SS 1975

Loretta C. Javra Obl. SB SSÆ75 (Æ72-74), Obl SB born 7/24/ 1931 and died in St. Paul on 8/10/2015. Preceded in death by father, Bernard Javra; mother, Petronella Javra Chipas; stepfather, Anthony Chipas; brother, Leonard Javra; guardian, Petrika Rusteika, numerous relatives in Lithuania. Survived by nephew, Bernard Javra (Thao, Evan and Alexander) of Naperville, IL; also by numerous cousins in Lithuania and cousin, Stephen Sokas (Florence, dec) of Chicago. Graduate degrees in theological studies in religious education, studied two summers at the Tantur Ecumenical Center in Jerusalem. A member of the Sisters of Casmir, Chicago for 20 years before relocating to Minnesota in 1973 where she served as religious educator in the following parishes: Religious Education Center, Hastings; St. Rita, Cottage Grove; St. Leo (now Lumen Christi), St. Paul; St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul; MMCC, Burnsville; St. Odilia, Shoreview; St. Lawrence, Mpls; Cathedral of St. Paul. In addition to working in the above churches, Loretta also taught classes in a number of parishes and institutions in the Twin Cities until her retirement in 2007. She also facilitated a local scripture study group of women in the Highland Park area from 1984-2014. She has been an Oblate of St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, MN since 1999. Loretta traveled extensively to areas concerned with her religious ministries (Israel, and the other lands of the Bible). In addition, Loretta visited Lithuania, home of her parents and ancestors during the summers of 1994, 1995 and 2002. She loved the land of her ancestry and spoke her first language, Lithuanian, since her childhood. She and her brother learned English when they began elementary school in Chicago. She continued to speak, read and write Lithuanian all her life. She was a member of the Lithuanian American Community in Minnesota.