Sister Regina (Mary Regina) Russell, age 98, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on August 20, 2017. She was born on July 27, 1919 in Baltimore, Maryland. Sister Regina was one of five children born to Francis and Helen (Tillery) Russell.
Sister Regina joined the Daughters of Charity on December 22, 1939 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Her first mission was to Seton Villa in Wilmington, Delaware where she served as a child care worker from 1940-1946. In 1946 she went to St. Mary’s Infant Home in Buffalo, New York for six months. That was her last ministry in child care as she was then asked to teach in elementary schools: St. Paul’s School in Portsmouth, Virginia (1946-1952); Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School in Greensburg, North Carolina (1952-1955); Cathedral School in Syracuse, New York (1955-1961); Our Lady of Lourdes School in Baltimore, Maryland (1961-1966); St. Peter’s School in Wilmington, Delaware (1966-1969); Holy Cross School in Lynchburg, Virginia (1969-1975); St. Joseph School in Petersburg, Virginia (1975-1980); and Mother Seton School in Emmitsburg, Maryland (1980-1985). From 1985-1997, Sister Regina lived at St. Joseph Provincial House in Emmitsburg and served as a docent at the shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. In 1997 her ministry was changed to that of Auxiliary Personnel, a position that she kept until 2002. In 2002 she retired to St. Michael Villa in Emmitsburg and served in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Sister Regina earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg in 1965.
Sister Regina was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and sisters. She is survived by a niece, Deborah Egitto, and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service will be held on Wednesday, August 23 at 7:00 pm in the Villa Chapel in Emmitsburg. The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, August 24 at 11:00 am in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME in Emmitsburg, MD.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Sister Regina’s name to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, Saint Louis, Missouri 63108.