A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Merida Ramirez, D.C., was celebrated Oct. 21, 2014, at Marian Chapel at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Mo. Burial followed Oct. 22 at Marillac Cemetery in Normandy, Mo.
Sister Merida died Oct. 16, 2014, at the Sarah Community. She was 77 years of age.
Born April 27, 1937, in Lajas, Puerto Rico, Sister Merida was one of three children born to Victor A. and Merida Velez Ramirez. She was baptized Erika Ramirez.
Sister Merida was a 1956 graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayaguez, P.R. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, P.R., in 1962.
Sister Merida entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 25, 1963. She celebrated 51 years of vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in January 2014.
After initial formation, Sister Merida completed a two-year pharmacy internship at DePaul Hospital in St. Louis (1964–1966). She then served as the chief pharmacist at DePaul Hospital (1966–1972). Sister was then missioned to the National Hansen’s Disease Center in Carville, La., where she served as chief pharmacist (1972–1987). In Carville, Sister also served as Sister Servant from 1980 to 1987. Sister Merida was then missioned to Austin, Texas, where she served as a pharmacist at Seton Medical Center (1987–1989). Sister served two different times in El Paso–first as director of pharmacy at San Vicente: Daughters of Charity Community Services of El Paso (1989–1993) and then as a pharmacy technician at Centro San Vicente (2004–2009). She also ministered in Dallas as a pharmacy technician at St. Paul Medical Center (1993–2001) and at St. Paul University Hospital (2001–2004). In October of 2009, Sister Merida joined the Ministry of Prayer at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton where she served until the time of her death.
Sister is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, Norman J. Ramirez, and her sister, Aixa Rivera, both of Mayaguez, P.R.; by many nieces and nephews; and by her Sisters in Community.