Sister Marita Christi Blinebury died in Camilla Hall on October 4, 2025. Sister was in the 75th year of her religious life.
Mary Antoinette Blinebury was born on June 13, 1932. Her parents Gilbert and Catherine (Finchen) Blinebury raised their family of seven children in St. Matthew Parish in Philadelphia.
Mary attended St. Timothy Elementary (1938-1946) and St. Hubert High School (1946-1950). Later, Mary went on to earn a B.A. degree from Immaculata College.
Mary Antoinette Blinebury entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on September 8, 1950; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Marita Christi, on March 26, 1951. Sister Marita pronounced her first vows April 5, 1953.
In the spring of 1953 through the school year ending in 2012, Sister Marita taught children on the elementary level, grades 3 through 6. During the course of her ministry, Sister served children at Blessed Virgin Mary, Darby, St. Joan of Arc, St. Matthew, Our Lady of Ransom, St. Thomas in Croydon, SS. Philip and James, Exton, St. Dominic, Annunciation, and Holy Saviour, Norristown. Sister also taught children outside of the Philadelphia area, including St. Patrick, York; Villa Maria, Falls Church, VA; St. Gregory, Virginia Beach, VA, and St. Simon, Los Altos, CA.
Sister Marita Christi’s last full-time teaching assignment (1994-2012) was spent at Incarnation School, where she taught third graders for 18 years.
In 2012, Sister resided at St. William Convent where she assisted in the Literacy Program for one year, then assisted in the office of St. William School for two years. After 59 years of loving service, Sister Marita Christi went to Camilla Hall to be part of the Apostolate of Prayer community.
In addition to her IHM community, Sister is survived by her nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister Marita Christi was predeceased by both parents, Gilbert Blinebury and Catherine (Finchen), and her brothers: Joseph Blinebury (Vivian), Charles Blinebury (Margaret), James Blinebury (Rita), Anthony Blinebury (Mary, Catherine), Francis Blinebury (Anna May), and her sister Catherine.
Reverend Francis Chambers, OSA celebrated Sister Marita Christi Blinebury’s Funeral Mass on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Deacon Michael DeGrass assisted at the altar.
In Sister Marita Christi’s memory, a memorial donation may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355