Sister Licari

Licari, OP, Sister Vita the former Sister Vincent Maria of Grand Rapids died on March 7, 2017. She was 88 years old and a Dominican Sister for 69 years. Sister Vita had a long ministry of more than forty years in primary and secondary education, beginning in 1949 at St. Mary Gaylord, and including Holy Cross, Santa Cruz and St. Mary's School, Belen, New Mexico; St. Joseph, Wright; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chesaning; St. Mary, Hannah; St. Mary, Lake Leelanau; Catholic Central, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Thomas and Marywood Academy, Grand Rapids; St. Michael, Maple Grove; Sacred Heart, Mt. Pleasant; St. Mary, New Salem; Our Lady of the Lake, Prudenville; St. Mary Magdalen, Melvindale and St. Mary, Big Rapids. In several of these schools she served as principal. Sister Vita earned a BA and an MA in Religious Education from Aquinas College. She pursued further studies at Grand Rapids Junior College and Western Michigan University. For four and one half years she was a lecturer of mathematics at Aquinas and for another four and one half years, secretary and bookkeeper at St. Pius X Parish, Grandville. Sister Vita's was quoted as saying that her source of consolation and peace during the hard times and the reason for her gratitude and joy during the good times came from the passage: "It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you." (John 15:16) Sister Vita is survived by her sister Mary Nowak and her brother Vito (Alberta) Licari both of Grand Rapids, MI; nieces and nephews, many friends and members of her Dominican community. Sister Vita will repose at Dominican Chapel/Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, with a Remembering Service on Thursday, March 9 at 4:15 pm with visitation following until 6:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 10 at 11:00 am at Dominican Chapel/Marywood. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Vita Licari's name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters Health Care Fund. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sister Vita Licari please visit our Sympathy Store.