Sister Loretto de Sales Scholtz, CSJ, died on April 6 at the age of 96.

One of five girls, Ellen grew up in Holy Cross Parish and attended the parish elementary school. After graduating from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1949.

Sister Loretto began her teaching career in the third grade at Mary’s Nativity School and then went on to teach the elementary grades at Holy Family and St. Mel’s.

She earned a B.A. and an M.A. in education, Spanish, and Spanish literature from St. John’s University, which led her to teach Spanish at St. Joseph’s High School and Stella Maris.

Her devotion to Our Blessed Mother and deep commitment to spreading God’s message of loving service permeated Sister Loretto’s daily life. In 1973, she went to Puerto Rico, where she taught English at Academia Santa Maria and Colegio San Conrado in Ponce, and later served as principal at Academia Santa Monica in Santurce and at San Conrado. Continuing her education, she earned an M.A. in educational administration and supervision from Boston College.

Returning to New York, Sister Loretto spent the next 11 years teaching Spanish at Sacred Heart Academy and The Mary Louis Academy.

In 2000, Sister Loretto’s joyful heart and self-giving spirit led her to respond to the needs of the Sisters in St. Joseph Convent, where she served as housekeeping supervisor for the next five years. This was followed by her years as a volunteer ESL teacher in The Learning Connection.

In 2016, Sister Loretto moved to Sacred Heart Convent and entered into the vibrant community that she found there.

Recently, her physical condition demanded the loving care and attention of the dedicated staff at Maria Regina Residence, where she died on April 6.

On April 13, a Mass of Christian Burial was offered for Sister Loretto de Sales in Sacred Heart Chapel. Father Sean Gann was the celebrant.

Sisters, relatives, and friends joined to celebrate Sister Loretto’s almost 77 years as a faithful daughter of Joseph.