RYPCZYNSKI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 05:07:02 :

Independent Journal
Monday, July 24, 1978

Sister Xavier

Charlotte Rypczynski, who as Sister M. Xavier devoted most of her life to nursing others, died Sunday in the Dominican Convent in San Rafael. She was 97. She first became a member of the order 76 years ago.

She was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1881, and her family brought her to California in 1894. After training in the convent, she taught in Dominican schools in San Francisco, Livermore and Vallejo, then enrolled in 1921 in the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Stockton. After graduation in 1925, she went to St. Mary’s Hospital in Reno, where she served as surgery supervisor and in many other roles during a half-century span. Even after her “retirement” in 1964, she continued to take active part in visiting patients.

Sister Xavier returned to Dominican last year as a patient in the infirmary. She is survived by a sister, Mary Rypczynski of Sacramento.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Dominican Convent, followed by burial in St. Dominic’s Cemetery, Benicia.