Sister Laetitia Chavez, OSB

Sister Laetitia Chavez, OSB, 97, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the monastery. The vigil service will be Sunday, June 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated there on Monday, June 10, at 10:30 a.m.

Sister Laetitia was born in Denver, Colo., on May 8, 1927, to Isidoro and Isabelle Muniz Chavez, the youngest of a very large blended family. After graduating from Loretto Academy in Sante Fe, New Mexico, she entered the Mount community in 1947. She made her monastic profession in 1948 and earned a B.S. in education from Mount St. Scholastica College. She was a master teacher of the primary grades for 41 years in parish schools in Missouri and Kansas. After retiring from full-time teaching, she became the lead teacher for the “Mount Mini Pre-School” at the monastery. In her later years, she participated in varied services at the monastery such as working as receptionist, canning, and mending. A quilter par excellence, her meticulous works were popular auction items at the Night of Dreams benefit event for many years. 

Sister Laetitia was preceded in death by her parents, by half-brothers Emil, Charles, John and Jim LaBadie, and Dell, Ned and Fidel Chavez, half-sisters Ortencia, Altagracia and Fidelia Chavez and Mary Gonzales, a sister Clotilda Chavez and a brother Anthony Chavez. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and her monastic family. Arensberg Pruett Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or made online at the Mount’s website.

Reflection for the Funeral Vigil

by Sister Barb Conroy
June 9, 2024

I would like to express our sympathy to Sr Laetitia’s family and friends. Know our community is praying for you during this time of grief.

As I sat at Laetitia’s bedside during her last day, my thoughts were directed to John Lennon’s song “Imagine.”

“Imagine all the people livin’ for today. Imagine all the people livin’ life in peace. Imagine all the people sharing all the world.” And the end of the song, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I ‘m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will live as one.”

I can imagine all the people who were there to greet Laetitia in heaven gathered around this wise, peaceful dreamer, singing we are now joined together living the world as one.

For 97 years, Laetitia lived the readings tonight. She had what she called a “long-range vocation” – she wanted to be a sister since the first grade. She chose the Benedictine community because they felt like family to her. After 75 years, she said to all of us,

“Benedictines – I wouldn’t trade them!”

Sister Laetitia

From the reading of the Book of Proverbs, we hear, “Listen to my instruction and be wise.” And, “For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.” Just last year, Laetitia celebrated 75 years of vowed life here at the Mount. She was truly a role model of listening to the Lord. Her presence at the Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist were a constant in her life. She lived the Psalms and shared Christ with all who were in her presence. She was always grateful, full of smiles and a contagious laugh.

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he reminds us, “For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.” Laetitia’s faith supported her through physical ailments. She was a master of driving an electric wheelchair, and she rarely accepted any help. She lived life to her last breath knowing that her reward would be great in heaven.

All the readings this evening refer to being present to one another. To me that is the greatest gift Laetitia gave to all of us. When I asked the staff in Dooley about Laetitia, the most common response was, “She was a quiet presence in my noisy life, and we always knew that she was praying for us and our families. She accepted us without judging us.”

Reflect once again on John Lennon’s song, “Imagine” with me. As soon as Laetitia entered heaven, a wooden footstool was pulled up for her, and children gathered around her as they did during her 45 years as a teacher, to hear their favorite story, the story that she lived for 97 years,

“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belong the kingdom of God.”