Sr. Mary William Vinet, veteran teacher, 97

Daughter of Charity Sister Mary William Vinet, a native of New Orleans who served for 75 years in religious life, died March 8 at her community’s Laboure Residence in Los Altos Hills, California. She was 97.

Helena Florentia Vinet was born on Nov. 10, 1918, in New Orleans, one of three sisters and five brothers born to William C. Vinet and his wife Estelle Fuchs.

In 1947, her mother was the first recipient of the Regina Matrum Award recognizing outstanding examples of Catholic motherhood in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

She graduated from Loyola University New Orleans in 1938, earning her B.A. in English and history. She also attended St. Louis University in St. Louis, where she received her master’s degree in education and English in 1945.

She entered the congregation in 1940 and received the habit on Aug. 15, 1941. She made first vows on Nov. 21, 1945. While she had many talents, her love of music carried her throughout her life. She played various instruments such as piano, organ, trumpet and baritone.

She began her teaching career in the elementary grades and eventually became principal at Notre Dame High School in Price, Utah. She taught for 40 years in many Catholic high schools in Missouri, Mississippi and Iowa.

When the Daughters of Charity formed the Province of the West in 1969, Sister Mary William was missioned to California and became a councillor and the first secretary for the new province. She assisted in writing the history of the Province of the West and worked as a full-time archivist.

As her health failed, she was missioned to Laboure Residence in Los Altos Hills in 2004.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated March 14 at the motherhouse. Interment followed in the community cemetery.

Sister Mary William is survived by her two sisters, Winnie Marcell and Mary Watke, both of Metairie, and a brother, Edward Vinet, of Harvey.