REITZEL, Sister Cecilia, (formerly Sister Ceciliana)
School Sister of Notre Dame

Died at Notre Dame Convent, Waterdown, Ontario on August 25, 2018 at the age of 92 in her 73rd year as a School Sister of Notre Dame. Predeceased by her parents Clayton and Cecilia (Ruetz) Reitzel and her brothers, Albert and Robert. Lovingly remembered by her religious community, especially her sister, Sister Marcella SSND, her brothers Jerome, Stanley, Leo, Rev. Raymond C.R., Louis, Rev. Harry C.R. and Lorne, and her sisters, Dolores Brandon and Dianne Dalton, foster sister.

In 1951, Sister Cecilia completed her B.A. degree at University of Western Ontario. After graduating from Hamilton Teachers’ College, she began her teaching career at St. Clements School, Cambridge. From 1954-1964 Sister Cecilia taught at St. Mary’s High School, Kitchener. She then was appointed principal at St. Aloysius School, Kitchener. In 1966 Sister Cecilia moved to Notre Dame Convent School, Lingfield, England, where she taught biology and chemistry to senior students until 1980. Here she organized a group of students who knitted afghans which were sent to Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Following a year of studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, Sister Cecilia returned to England where she was in parish ministry in Peckham Rye and Dulich. In 1986 she moved to Cambridge, Ontario, where she was director of the catechetical correspondence program for the Hamilton diocese. When the Cambridge convent closed in 2009, she moved to Notre Dame Convent, Waterdown and continued on the catechetical team until 2009. During her years of retirement, Sister Cecilia was involved in various outreach programs, such as, sewing children’s clothes for Dr. Simone’s, Canadian Food for the Poor. Until her death, she participated in community activities.

Visitors will be received at Notre Dame Convent on Tuesday, August 28 from 2:00- 4:00pm and 7:00-8:00pm. Prayer service will be held on Tuesday afternoon at 3:00pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 29 at 10:30am. Interment at Notre Dame Convent Cemetery.