Sister of Charity of Nazareth Grace Maria Saia, 91, died Feb. 19 at Nazareth Home. She was a professed Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 68 years.
Sister Saia, a native of Helena, Ark., served in educational ministries in Tennessee, Virginia, Arkansas and in the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky.
In the Archdiocese of Louisville, she taught primary grades at Most Blessed Sacrament, St. Thomas More, St. John Vianney, St. Luke and Whitney Young schools.
From 1972 to 1978, Sister Saia served as a social worker in Kentucky. She also served for many years in Memphis in school administration. From 2003 to 2015 she worked as a consultant to urban schools for the Diocese of Memphis.
Sister Saia wrote “Catherine Spalding, Woman of Kentucky,” the first book for children on the life of Mother Catherine, the founder of the SCNs.
She is survived by her sister Agnes Saia Smith, her extended family and her religious community.
A wake service will be held Feb. 27 in St. Vincent de Paul Church in Nazareth, Ky., at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Feb. 28 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent, followed by burial in Nazareth Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the SCN Office of Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Nazareth, Ky., 40048.
