Sister Elma Olivera, 95

Sister of the Holy Family Elma Olivera, a former teacher and principal, died Feb. 16 . She was 95 and had served for 78 years in religious life.

The daughter of the late Timothy Olivera and Rosiebell Monroe Olivera, she was born on Sept. 15, 1929, in Belize City, Belize, Central America.

Sister Elma entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family on Sept. 10, 1947, made first vows on Aug. 15, 1950, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1955.

  Sister Elma earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the College of Saint Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio; a master’s degree in education from USL (ULL) in Lafayette, Louisiana; and a master’s of religious education from Loyola University  New Orleans.

She began her teaching career at St. Joan of Arc School in New Orleans in 1950 and remained there until 1958, when she was transferred to Stann Creek Town (Dangriga) to teach at Austin High School. From 1963-67, Sister Elma attended the College of Mount St. Joseph in Ohio. From 1967-70 she served as principal of Holy Family School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She was in the exchange program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970-71. From 1971-74, Sister Elma served at the following schools in Louisiana: St. Francis Xavier, Baton Rouge; St. Mary’s Academy, New Orleans; and St. Paul the Apostle, New Orleans as principal. For three years after, Sister Elma ministered as principal in Belize, Central America.

Sister Elma returned to the United States and the classroom for the next 28 years, teaching at St. Mary’s Academy, New Orleans; Regina Caeli High, Compton, California; Our Lady of Victory Elementary, Compton; Holy Rosary Institute, Lafayette; and Holy Ghost, Opelousas, Louisiana.           

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 20 at the Chapel of the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans. She was interred at St. Louis Cemetery No. 2.