Honolulu-born Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Milla Derby, who taught music and art in schools across the country before becoming an artist-in-residence in Hawaii, died Sept. 26, at Oahu Care Facility in Honolulu. She was 89 and a religious sister for 62 years. She is Hawaii’s last Sinsinawa Dominican.
The funeral Mass will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Honolulu, at 10 a.m. Oct. 24. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. with a rosary at 9:45 a.m., prior to the service. A funeral Mass will be held at the Sinsinawa Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis., at a later date.
Sister Milla was born Feb. 16, 1926, in Honolulu to Hans and Eunice (Young) Derby.
Sister Milla made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Feb. 4, 1953, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1956, taking the religious name Sister Chia Ta Liana.
From 1953 to 1989, in Catholic high schools in Minnesota, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Illinois and Wisconsin, she taught music for 12 years and art for 23 years before settling in Hawaii as an artist-in-residence.
As an artist, Sister Milla captured the natural beauty of the islands primarily with vibrant anil dyes on silk. Her work can be found in First Hawaiian Bank and Nahru Tower as well as private collections. Favorite subjects included the flora of Hawaii, birds, reef fish and sea turtles.
She is survived by her sister Donna Strasburg and her Dominican Sisters.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate Now,” then “Honor and Memorial Gift.”
