Educator and chaplain, Sister of St. Francis served with a joyful spirit
Sister Mary Candida Oroc, a Kauai-born Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities who, as a Catholic school educator and hospital chaplain, displayed a vivacious outreach to all, especially in her ministry with palliative care patients, died May 29 at the Plaza at Kaneohe. She was 89 and a religious sister 71 years.
Sister Candida worked in Catholic schools on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island from 1952 to 1984, 14 years as a teacher and 18 as a principal. She was assigned to St. Joseph School, Hilo; Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Pearl City; and Sacred Heart School, Lahaina. She also served on the staff of the Hawaii Catholic Schools Department for four years.
Sister Candida then began 23 years as a chaplain in the Spiritual Services Department at St. Francis Medical Center and St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii. Her final years included residential supervision at Marianne Hall, community service and prayer ministry at St. Francis Convent, Manoa, and prayer ministry at the Plaza at Kaneohe.
She will be remembered for her love of and devotion to God and her birth and Franciscan families. She displayed a spirited outreach to everyone she served, especially with her healing touch and spiritual direction for patients in palliative care.
Sister Candida was born Soledad Maria Oroc in Makaweli, Kauai, on March 12, 1933, to the late Gregorio Jalico Oroc and Candida Sotomayor Oroc.
Soledad graduated from St. Francis Convent School in Honolulu and entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse, New York, on Sept. 8, 1950, from St. Theresa Parish, Kekaha, Kauai. She received the Franciscan habit and her religious name on March 1, 1951, made her first profession of vows on May 5, 1953, and her final profession on Aug. 1, 1955.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Chaminade College of Honolulu, a master’s in education from the University of Hawaii, and a master’s in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure University, Olean, New York. She later studied clinical pastoral education and was certified as a hospital chaplain.
In addition to her parents, Sister Candida was predeceased by her nephew, Robert Oroc. She is survived by her brother Epifanio (Panio) and sister-in-law Gregoria (Jeannie) Oroc of Kauai, nephews Eric and Gregory Oroc, nieces Elizabeth Perea and Stephanie Bostick, and several grandnephews and nieces, and the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities.
Her funeral was June 30 at St. Ann Church, Kaneohe. She was buried at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Donations may be made in her name to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Marianne Cope Convent, 2102 Liliha Street, Honolulu HI 96817.
