Sr. Ann Marie Lustig , Op (Mary Laura)

Sister Ann Marie Lustig, OP (Mary Laura) died peacefully at St. Joseph Residence in Seattle on January 17, 2022.  She was born September 19, 1943

A native of Bakersfield, California, she was the daughter of the late Laura and Bernard Lustig.  She attended St. Francis School, kindergarten through eighth grade where she first met the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, Washington. She then attended Garces Memorial High School for four years. At that time, Garces was staffed by the Dominican Sisters and the De Lasalle Christian Brothers. Thus began her lifelong relationship with both communities.

Sister Ann Marie entered the Dominican novitiate in 1961 and made her final profession in 1968. She attended Seattle University, College of Sister Formation and received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science in 1968; her Master of Arts in Theology from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA in 1978, and her Master of Arts in Administration and Curriculum from Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA in 1987.

She taught at St. Francis School in Bakersfield and at St. Vincent de Paul School in San Diego before moving into secondary school at Garces Memorial High School (1969 -1974); Carroll High School, Yakima (1974-1976); Bishop O’Dowd High School, Oakland, CA (1976-1977). From 1977-1979, she served as Initial Formation Director for her Dominican Congregation.

In 1979 Sister Ann Marie began over 35 years of ministry with the Christian Brothers. First at the Christian Brothers Retreat House in St. Helena, CA followed by teaching and administration in Lasalle schools in Pasadena, CA, Milwaukie, OR and Yakima, WA. During the years she taught at Garces Memorial High School it was still staffed by the Dominican Sisters and Christian Brothers.

Sister Ann Marie was a dedicated teacher, author, curriculum developer and counselor. She loved working with young people sharing with them her passion for social justice and the Good News of the Gospel. She received many awards for excellence in teaching and in 1988 she was named the Lasallian Educator of the Year by the district of San Francisco.

In 1998 she came to Yakima as one of the founding members of LaSalle High School Yakima helping to shape the LaSalle vision and mission from its beginning. A life-long learner, she loved to inspire her students with that same passion especially for faith and justice issues.

In 2008 she was honored by the Christian Brothers with a letter of Affiliation bestowing on her the title of Affiliate. In his introduction, Brother James said that this was an honor reserved for “those people who have contributed significantly to our work of providing a human and Christian education to young people.”

In 2011 she was elected to the Leadership Team of the Dominican Sisters. During this time, she served on the board of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center and was instrumental in creating awareness about the pressing justice issues of our time She served in this position until 2018.

As her frontal temporal dementia progressed, she chose to move St. Joseph Residence in Seattle.

Sister Ann Marie is survived by her sisters and brothers Andy Lustig, John (Leanne) Lustig, Barbara Lustig Hoppes , Marty Lustig Cox, Laura Lustig Croft (Ron), Claire Lustig, and Margaret Lustig. She is also survived by her niece Angela Madrigal and nephews Adam Lustig, Chris and Pat Cox.

A celebration of Sister Ann Marie’s life will take place February 8, at 11:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Burien, WA. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Tacoma.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund at 935 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, WA 98402 or to Sister Ann Marie Scholarship Fund, Lasalle High School, 3000 Lightning Way, Union Gap, WA 98903