A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Raphael Collazo, D.C., was celebrated October 25, 2018, at the Villa St. Michael Chapel, Emmitsburg, Md. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Emmitsburg. Sister Mary Raphael died October 21, 2018, at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg. She was 87 years of age and 66 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, on December 7, 1930, Sister Mary Raphael (baptized Myriam) was one of two children born to Casto and Providencia (Camunas) Collazo.
A graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayaguez, Sister earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, in 1952. Sister Mary Raphael entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity in December 1952.
Following initial formation, Sister Mary Raphael first served as a Teacher at Immaculate Conception Academy in Washington, D.C., (1953 to 1954). She next served as a Laboratory Technician at Providence Hospital, Washington, D.C., (1955). Sister then began her years as a Foreign Missionary. She served as a Laboratory Technician and Teacher at Colegio Madre Seton, Trinidad, Bolivia, (1955 to 1968); as Provincial Secretary at the Provincial House in Cochabamba, Bolivia, (1968 to 1976); as a Teacher and Local Community Superior at Colegio Madre Seton, Trinidad, Bolivia, (1976 to 1981); as Principal and Laboratory Technician at Casa de Caridad, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, (1981 to 1983); as Provincial Secretary, (1983 to 1987) and Provincial Secretary and Councillor, (1987 to 1996), and as Local Community Superior and Provincial Secretary, (1996 to 1997), all at the Provincial House in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Sister Mary Raphael then served as Administrator while living at Casa San Vicente, Trinidad, Bolivia, (1997 to 2003); then as Local Community Superior there, (2003 to 2004).
In late 2004, Sister Mary Raphael returned to the United States; in 2005, she entered the Ministry of Prayer at Villa St. Michael, Emmitsburg, where she served until the time of her death. Sister Mary Raphael was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her nephew, James Collazo, and her Sisters in Community.