Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister M. Mercita Lynch CSC

Nov. 10, 1916 - Feb. 16, 2003

South Bend Tribune

Sister M. Mercita (Helen Elizabeth Lynch), CSC, 86, was born in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 10, 1916, to the late Hugh F. and Rosemary Carolan Lynch. Sister is survived by her brother, Hugh Lynch of Chicago; sister-in-law, Jill (John) Lynch of Carmel, Calif.; nephews, Michael K. Lynch of Lemont, Ill., James R. Lynch of Costa Rica, Hugh Lynch III of Chicago and Richard J. Nielsen of Big Walls, Wis.; and by a niece, Leandra Lynch, MD, Crested Butte, Colo.

Sister Mercita entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1933, made her first profession in 1936, and final profession Aug. 15, 1939. Her early education was done in Illinois and she entered St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind., and graduated in 1939 with a BA degree, major in history and minor in education. She also attended the University of Notre Dame, University of Denver, Denver, Colo., and Rosary College, River Forest, Ill., from which she received her MA degree in library science in 1959.

Sister taught elementary grades in Davenport, Iowa, Michigan City, Ind., and Evergreen Park, Ill. She was librarian at Saint Angela Academy, Morris, Ill., principal at Immaculate Conception School, Morris, Ill., and then moved into secondary education and was librarian at Saint Mary's School and Marian Central High School, Woodstock, Ill., and Holy Redeemer High School, Flint, Mich. In 1966 Sister was assigned as librarian at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, until 1976 when she became director in Rome, Italy, of the Saint Mary's College Rome Program. She returned and was director of the Rome Program at the college from 1981-1984.

Sister M. Mercita served as religious superior for a number of convents on the Saint Mary's campus. In 1988 she moved to Our Lady of Holy Cross Convent, South Bend, where she was housekeeping supervisor. She returned to Rosary Convent as superior and convent librarian in 1991. Her next move was to Saint Mary's Convent and she became active in the Ministry of Prayer until her death. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Wake services will be at 4 p.m. today, Feb. 18, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.