Holy Family sister worked in missions and parishes in Hawaii and Alaska
FREMONT, Calif. — Holy Family Sister M. Angelina Dutra, who served more than 20 years in both the 50th and 49th states, died peacefully at the Motherhouse
Holy Family Sister M. Angelina Dutra
of the Sisters of the Holy Family in Fremont on March 30. She was 89 years old and lived the religious life for 67 years.
Born on Jan. 31, 1927, in Tracy, Calif., Sister Angelina entered the Sisters of the Holy Family from St. Bernard Parish in Tracy on July 2, 1949, at the age of 22.
She served in California parishes and day homes until 1954, when she was assigned to Hawaii. She remained here 22 years, ministering in parishes and missions, before moving to Alaska. There she worked in the parishes and missions of Sitka until 1983, when she took time out of her active ministry to earn her credentials in a clinical pastoral education program.
Returning to Alaska in 1985, Sister Angelina spent the next 20 years doing pastoral and spiritual care in various aspects of the Providence Health System in Anchorage.
She returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006, living for one year in Oakland before coming to the Motherhouse in 2007. She remained there doing volunteer and community ministry until recently when ill health curtailed her activity.
Sister Angelina’s life was dedicated to people on the fringes, the marginalized and less-cared-for. Tracing her roots to the island community of the Azores in Portugal, she spent most of her active ministry in the mission communities of the Hawaiian Islands and in Alaska, which like Hawaii is isolated by distance from the contiguous United States. She worked with Native Americans, immigrants, the sick and the elderly to show them the care of a loving community.
Her funeral was April 7 at the Holy Family Motherhouse in Fremont. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Sisters of the Holy Family, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont, CA 94539.