Sister Regina Mauricia DeFeo, IHM died in Camilla Hall on Thursday, March 25, 2021 in the 67th year of her religious life.
Elaine DeFeo was born on September 10, 1936. Her dear parents Charles and Phyllis (Pacilli) DeFeo were born in Italy. When her parents came to America, Elaine and her brother, Maurice, grew up in the south Philadelphia area. Elaine attended the James Alcorn School during the 1941-42 school year quickly followed by St. Gabriel Elementary School from 1942 through the school year ending in 1950. Elaine attended West Catholic High School and graduated in 1954. Later, while in the Community, Sister earned an A.B. degree in Math from Immaculata and an M.A. degree in Math from Villanova University.
Elaine entered the Community on September 8, 1954. She received her habit and her religious name, Sister Regina Mauricia, on March 8, 1955 and professed her First Vows on March 10, 1957. Shortly after Profession, Sister went to St. John of the Cross Elementary School in Roslyn to teach fifth grade children from March of that year through the end of the school year.
From the fall of 1957 through June 1965, Sister Regina Mauricia taught elementary aged children at St. Thomas More in Arlington (grade 5), St. Veronica in Philadelphia (grade 8), St. Dorothy in Drexel Hill (grade 8), and Immaculate Conception in Levittown (grade 8).
For the next eleven years, 1965 – 1976, Sister taught high school students at St. Hubert High School in Philadelphia. At the end of this mission, Sister had the opportunity for advanced study during the 1976 – 1977 academic year.
In August 1977, Sister Regina Mauricia received an assignment to teach at Immaculata College. During Sister’s tenure, she served as a beloved teacher and colleague; she also served as Treasurer of the College from August 1978 through August 1988. Sister Regina Mauricia served the Immaculata Community faithfully, tirelessly, and generously until January 2020.
In January 2020, Sister Regina Mauricia entered Camilla Hall, our IHM Convent Home and Health Care Center. Sister served as a faithful witness in the Apostolate of Prayer Community until her death on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2021.
In addition to her IHM Community, her Community at Immaculata University, and her Camilla Hall Community, Sister is survived by her sister-in-law Dolores, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister is predeceased by her parents Charles and Phyllis (Pacilli) DeFeo and her brother Maurice DeFeo.
Due to Covid-19, Visitation, Funeral Mass, and Interment were private. A limited number of family members attended the Funeral Mass on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Reverend Michael J. Gerlach, pastor of SS. Simon & Jude Parish, was the Celebrant and Homilist.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355