Joan Cecilia Fife

Obituary Sister M. Katherine Theresa (Joan Cecilia Fife), SNJM April 9, 1932 - September 25, 2009 Sister Katherine Theresa Fife (Joan) was born in Spokane, WA, and raised in St. Aloysisus Parish, known in Spokane as The Holy Land. She was the 8th child of George Herbert Fife (deceased) and Sara Ann Urie (deceased). Sister is survived by her sister Sara (Sally) Shreve and brother-in-law Joseph of Yorba Linda, CA, her religious community, and four generations of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers James, John, and Richard, and sisters Lorna Glischinski, Jane McBreen, and Mary Morgan. Through her 77 years of life and 58 years of religious profession she brought great joy to her family, community, and countless friends, and was dearly loved by all. She attended St. Aloysius Elementary School and Holy Names Academy before entering the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names in July of 1949. She pronounced her vows as Sister M. Katherine Theresa in 1951. She earned a BFA from Fort Wright College of the Holy Names, majoring in piano. Although she taught music in Oregon schools in her early life, most of her teaching career has been in Spokane, Seattle, Auburn, Everett, and Tacoma. Having begun her "career of note" in 1949, she spent over fifty years enriching the lives of children, adults, and parish communities through her gifts of music, teaching, and striving to develop persons to their full potential through her love and gracious acceptance Vigil celebration of Sister's life will be at 7:00pm Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at Visitation Parish, 3314 S. 58th Street, Tacoma, 98409. Funeral Liturgy Wednesday, September 30th, 11:00am, also at Visitation, followed by reception at Visitation Parish. Memorial Mass and Burial will be in Spokane, WA. Memorial contributions can be made to Sisters of the Holy Names Retirement Fund, Spokane Regional Office, 2911 W. Fort Wright Drive, Spokane, WA, 99224. Please leave online condolences at www.GaffneyCares.com . Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.