Sister Mary Edwina Dietrich, S.S.N.D.

A funeral Mass for Sister Mary Edwina Dietrich, S.S.N.D., a teacher in Baltimore and surrounding areas for many years, was offered June 17 at the Villa Assumpta in Baltimore. Sister Edwina died June 12 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson; she was 89.

Sister Edwina was born in Baltimore, and with the support of her parents and an aunt who was a School Sister of Notre Dame, she realized her vocation. She attended St. Ambrose in Baltimore and entered the juniorate, a high school for girls considering entering the S.S.N.D. congregation. She graduated in June of 1941 at the age of 18 and entered the congregation the following August. Two years later, in July of 1943, she entered the order’s novitiate and took the religious name Sister Marie Edwina. In 1944 she began her first teaching assignment of fourth grade at St. Ann’s in Baltimore. Sister Mary Edwina moved to New Jersey where she taught school for 10 years. Upon returning to Maryland she taught fifth grade at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Towson from 1957-1968. Sister Edwina also taught at St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Riviera Beach, St. Matthew, Northwood, and then moved to Philadelphia where she taught from 1987 to 1993. In 1993, she returned to Baltimore once again. Sister Edwina served as an assistant in the heritage room of the former Baltimore province until 1997 when she retired to Villa Assumpta and served her community with her presence and prayer.