A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Muriel Levy, D.C., was celebrated Oct. 15, 2015, at Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery in Evansville. Sister Muriel died Oct. 10, 2015, at Seton Residence. She was 94 years of age and 75 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in New Orleans, La., Oct. 7, 1921, Sister Muriel was one of nine children born to Albert Allen and Henrietta (Schaeffer) Levy. She was baptized Muriel Agnes Levy. Sister graduated from St. Joseph High School in New Orleans in 1939 and entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Mo., in December of 1939. She was one of three daughters in her family to join the Community of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. One son, Reverend Michael Levy, also joined a religious community; he is a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation.
Sister Muriel earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Fontbonne University (then College) in St. Louis in 1949.
Following initial formation, Sister Muriel was missioned to St. Mary’s Home in St. Louis where she served as Group Mother and Teacher (1941 to 1951). She also served in the same role at Mount St. Joseph in San Francisco, Calif. (1951 to 1959). Sister ministered as an elementary teacher at Our Lady of Talpa School in Los Angeles (1959 to 1960). She then served as Group Mother and teacher at St. Mary’s Home in Mobile, Ala., (1960 to 1966); and Group Mother at St. Elizabeth Home in New Orleans (1966 to 1973). For the next 17 years, Sister Muriel ministered in pastoral care at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans (1973 to 1990). She then served at St. Henry Parish in New Orleans (in pastoral care to the elderly, 1990 to 2005; and then in telephone ministry 2005 to 2009). Following Hurricane Katrina, Sister Muriel was evacuated to Austin, Texas, for a year and then was missioned to Waco, Texas, until May of 2009 when Sister Muriel joined the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville. She served there until the time of her death.
Sister Muriel was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Maxine (Sister Maxine, Daughter of Charity); and her brothers Albert Allen, Joseph Anthony and Louis Vincent Levy. Sister is survived by her sisters, Mary Brown of Baton Rouge, La.; Gertrude (Sister Gertrude, Daughter of Charity) of Evansville; her brothers Rev. Michael Levy, OMI, of San Antonio, Texas, and Francis Levy of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; a host of nieces and nephews; and her Sisters in Community.