A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Elizabeth Parham, D.C. was celebrated June 16, 2017 at the Seton Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Sister Elizabeth was buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Nashville, Tenn. She died June 13, 2017, at Seton Residence, Evansville, Ind. She was 87 years of age and 64 years of vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Kingsport, Tennessee, on January 17, 1930, Sister Elizabeth (baptized Elizabeth Ruth) was one of four children born to Russell and Frances (Englert) Parham. She received her high school diploma from St. Bernard Academy in Nashville, Tenn., in 1948, and entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Mo. in 1953. Sister Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics and Philosophy from Fontbonne College in St. Louis in 1956. In 1958, she received a Master of Science Degree in Dietetics from Saint Louis University. Sister earned her Master of Arts Degree in Hospital Administration from Trinity College in San Antonio, Tex., in 1974.
Following initial formation, Sister Elizabeth served as a Registered Dietitian at St. Mary Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis. (1958-1960) then as a Nutrition instructor at Marillac College in St. Louis (1960-1962). From there, Sister ministered as a Dietitian at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis (1962-1971) and at St. Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif. (1971-1972). In Daly City, Calif., Sister Elizabeth completed her Residency in Hospital Administration at Mary’s Help Hospital (1972-1973), after completing her MHA Degree at Trinity, Sister was missioned to serve as an Assistant Administrator at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, Calif. (1975-1978). Sister served at the Daughters of Charity Province of Los Altos Hills Provincial House in 1978. In 1979, she returned to Daly City to serve as the Associate Director at Mary’s Help Hospital (1979-1981). From there, she moved to Los Angeles to minister in Administration at the St. Vincent Medical Center (1981-1982), and at St. Francis Medical Center (1982-1986).
In 1986, Sister Elizabeth returned to Daly City once more to serve as the Vice President of Diversified Subsidiaries at Seton Medical Center, where she served for ten years. She then served as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Kennedy Health Services Foundation in Daly City (1996-2000). In Los Angeles, she began duties as the Assistant to Sister Teresa Piro at the Daughters of Charity Foundation and as the Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Medical Center Foundation (2000-2003). In 2003, Sister Elizabeth moved to San Jose to work as an Administrator in Mission Services at the O’Connor Sisters’ Home (2003-2005) and as the Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness at O’Connor Hospital (2005-2007), during which time she was appointed as a Local Community Superior. Sister then served as a Patient Visitor at the Seton Sisters Home in Daly City (2007-2008). In 2010, Sister was missioned to Evansville, Ind., where she served in the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence until the time of her death.
Sister Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Russell Parham. She is survived by her brother, Frank R. Parham (Margie) of Mount Juliet, Tenn.; her sister, Ann P. Birthright (Edward) of Nashville, Tenn.; sister-in-law, Mattie Halliburton Parham, of Nashville, Tenn., devoted nieces and nephews, and by her Sisters in Community.