Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 4/3/2000

Sister M. Irmalita Culp

June 2, 1909 - April 1, 2000

Sister M. Irmalita (Sara Catherine Culp) died on Saturday, April 1, in Saint Mary's Convent, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind.

Sister M. Irmalita was born on June 1, 1909, to the late Harry Allen Culp and Sarah Reinghans Culp in Los Angeles, Calif. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross at Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, on July 4, 1927 from Los Angeles and made her final profession in the Congregation on Aug. 15, 1933.

Sister M. Irmalita, after her studies at Saint Mary's, began her teaching ministry in the elementary grades from 1927 through 1961. She taught at St. Joseph's and St. Mary's in Indiana; St. John's, Fresno, St. Charles, San Francisco, St. Matthew's, San Mateo, all in California. Sister then taught at Sacred Heart, Ogden, Utah, from 1937-1956. She was assigned as teacher and in administration at St. Matthew's, Seattle, Wash., then the middle grades at Stella Maris, La Jolla, Calif., teacher and principal at Good Shepherd School, Beverly Hills, Calif., and elementary grades at Saint Paul's and Christ the King, Los Angeles, Calif. Sister retired to Saint Catherine's by the Sea in 1982 where she took care of the sewing room and boutique. In 1997 she moved to Saint Mary's Convent, Notre Dame, and was active with the boutique and the Apostolate of Prayer until her death.

Sister M. Irmalita is survived by two nieces, Jean O'Brien of Mesa, Ariz. and Margaret Kappauf of Victorville, Calif.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 4 in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, followed by interment at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's.

Wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today, April 3, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.