Sister Clelia Cecchetti (formerly Sister Rosina)

“Rejoice your righteous in God! We give thanks to you with the lyre, make melody with ten-stringed harps. Let us sing a song that is new, and play skillfully, full of gladness.

“Our souls are waiting for you; you are our help and our shield. In you do our hearts find joy; we trust in your holy name. May your mercy be upon us as we put our hope in you.”

Psalm 33: 1-3, 20-22

These verses from Psalm 33 aptly describe Sister Clelia’s love affair with music which started out in her very musical and talented family, continued formerly as a music teacher, and became an integral part of varied ministries she pursued. But they also express her consistent trust in God’s help and mercy which bore fruit in her life of hope and joy, said Sister Marilyn Baker in her commentary for Sister Clelia Cecchetti, formerly Sister Rosina, who passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She was 86 years old and had been a Sister of Providence for 65 years.

Sister Marilyn continued: Clelia Antonia Maria Cecchetti was born to Felix and Rose St. John Cecchetti on April 22, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, Her siblings include three brothers: Ralph, George and Richard; and two sisters: Laura and Lydia, who died in 2016.

During her early years, while Clelia was an elementary school student, the family moved from Webster Grove, Missouri, to College Park, Maryland. After completing eighth grade at Holy Redeemer in College Park, she attended St. Patrick Academy in Washington, D.C., graduating from that high school in 1955.

Four years later, on February 2, 1959, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence and was given the religious name Sister Rosina, no doubt in honor of her mother, Rose. Years later, she returned to her baptismal name. August 15 was the date of her reception into the novitiate, first vows and profession of her perpetual vows in 1959, 1961, and 1966 respectively.

It seems that Clelia was immersed in music from her youth: Her father enjoyed listening to the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts every Saturday, and her family enjoyed classical music. George played the violin as a child and the saxophone after he retired; their sister Lydia had a beautiful coloratura soprano voice. That Clelia’s bachelor’s degree, from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and master’s degree, from Ball State University, were both in Music Education, does not seem surprising.

For the next 23 years, she put her degrees to use in four different elementary schools in Indiana, Maryland and D.C. I met Clelia in 1972 when I was on mission with her at St. Ann Catholic School in Washington, D.C. At that time, I interacted with Clelia mostly as the music teacher and as our house treasurer as well as one of the Sisters I was getting to know better.

When notified of Clelia’s death, Father Robert Fennimore, then a young priest assigned as Assistant Pastor at St. Ann Parish, spoke of her helpful manner and wisdom when working with him in planning school liturgies. He commented on her clear singing voice when she was directing the children.

After a sabbatical in Massachusetts, Clelia switched gears totally to six years in finance ministry, being Provincial Treasurer in St. Raphael Province, and ministering in the CBO at the Woods as Local Residence Accounts Manager and Finance Clerk Cashier.

The next 18 years from 1994 t 2012, she pursued several ministries in Washington, D.C., as receptionist at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, as Administrative Secretary for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and finally as a volunteer for the Little Sisters of the Poor at the Jeanne Jugan residence for the elderly. In 2010, when she tendered her resignation from the USCCB Office of Liturgy, the director, Msgr. David Molloy, wrote, “… you have given us a joyful witness to your religious consecration. For this, I am very grateful.”

Sister Clelia had returned to College Park, Maryland, in 1993. I had the privilege of living with her in 1997 while on sabbatical during my ministry in Taiwan at Providence University. Clelia was a receptionist at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and I was auditing classes at Catholic University. Clelia would accompany me on the metro or drive me back to College Park when I had a night class.

Her last seven years of ministry, from 2013 to 2020, in Laurel, Maryland, involved parish ministry where she coordinated Eucharistic Ministers to the sick and was a parish visitor. Her long-time friend, Bill O’Hagan, who also grew up in College Park and was a member of Holy Redeemer Parish, shared many of his fond memories of the times he spent with Clelia as they ministered as Communion Ministers to the homebound and those in Morningside, the neighboring assisted living complex. For three Fridays of the month, Clelia led the Communion Service three.

She led the singing and Bill did the readings. Bill said he was always so touched by her singing and the way she talked about how the meaning of the scriptures applied to the lives of the residents present. He admired the way that she could laugh at her own foibles and rejoice in the gifts of others. He said, “She had such a delightful laugh!”

After retiring from ministry at Providence University in January of 2011, I joined Clelia in residing with the Sisters of St. Vincent Pallotti in Laurel, Maryland. Between then and 2020, Clelia had become a very dear friend to me. Through her I met many of the members of the parish who had valued her presence, joy and spiritual depth. The sisters ta Pallotti Convent and those persons I was able to contact were deeply saddened by her death. Some of them were still keeping in touch with her.

It was during these years that I had gotten to know her family, her sisters Lydia and Laura, and her brother George and sister-in-law Betsy. Sometime in the first few years I was there, Clelia told me that Sister Mary Catherine Guiler had sent her an email in which she had been called “Coleslaw!” She said that when Mary Catherine typed Clelia’s name, it was autocorrected to Coleslaw! The name stuck for several years and we have had many laughs over that! Clelia and I went through some very good and some very difficult times during those years, which I think helped to deepen the bond of our friendship.

Upon returning to the Motherhouse in 2020, Clelia volunteered in Providence Health Care and in Residential Service, little suspecting that she would suddenly be called to God following a fall in her room. Knowing that none of her family members would be able to attend her services, I asked them to share with us some of their memories of Clelia.

Rich: “I don’t have any good stories of Clelia to share but I’ll always be grateful in remembering her and Lydia at my wedding to my wife, Celeste, in 1985. They were the only Cecchettis there!”

Dee: “One of our delights has been to speak to Clelia frequently, either she would call or we would call her. She was such a joy. I remember the day she told us that she was going into the convent. She had worked in Washington for a period of two years (as I remember) and it seemed so natural for her. We enjoyed all the visits we had with her in New Jersey. Those were good years. God Bless Her.”

Rebecca Cecchetti Coleman (Ralph’s daughter): “For the first 15 years of my life, between 1959 and 1974, Aunt Clelia was a frequent visitor to our home. During those visits, she taught us and sang songs with us like “Rise and Shine,” “He’s got the Whole World in His Hands,” “There was Three Little Fisherman,” And “Oh you Can’t Get to Heaven” while swinging with us on our swing set. She would bring her guitar with her on these visits, and play it and our piano whenever she could, sometimes accompanying me on the piano when I played my flute. My four boys had PTSD from me singing “Rise and Shine” every morning to wake them. The angels are lucky to have her, but we will sorely miss her. I hope to someday sing with her again.

“My dad photographed many of these occasions, and my family and I will treasure these photographs and memories forever. In all of my memories and these photos of Clelia, she is smiling and enjoying life, joy and love showing on her face and in her frequent laughter. I do not have a single memory of her getting even a little bit angry or impatient with anyone. I can still hear her laughter, and that is a sound I hope I will never forget.”

Michael, nephew: “Aunt Clelia was always the voice of reason and peace in a family that was, as is common in many Italian families, rather outspoken and argumentative. She was always optimistic, and everyone had only good things to say about her. I have fond childhood memories of visiting her at her various residences in the D.C. area. As my confirmation sponsor, I always had a spiritual connection with her. And later, when I became an advocate for environmental justice, she was always very interested and supportive of my work. She will be fondly remembered in our family. And there is no doubt she has been welcomed into her Father’s house – ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!”

George: “When Richard was in first grade and I was in second grade, Clelia was in seventh grade. She would pick us up after school and walk us home. (I recall that) She loved dancing, including jitterbugging, and enjoyed going to the neighborhood Halloween parties. Also, when Laura’s husband died, she said she needed Clelia there. The family relied on Clelia whenever there was a crisis and they needed comfort.”

Debbie Leah Thacker (George’s daughter): “I remember playing in her music classroom at Holy Redeemer, always taking the time for a kind and encouraging word for two rambunctious kids. She will be greatly missed.”

Jennifer Rockwell (George’s daughter): “Yes, music class! She had incredible patience and kindness.”

Pat Cecchetti Nelli (Ralph’s daughter): “A faith filled woman and role model who was so very kind and warm.”

Betsy: “Clelia was a wonderful, loving sister-in-law and friend. We shared a love of music and walking in nature as well as an interest in spirituality. She was always helpful and kind with a ready laugh, and she took wonderful, patient care of her sister Lydia. George and I enjoyed her frequent phone calls and our Zoom sessions with her and Richard in recent years. Our family was so blessed to have her in our lives.”

Sister Clelia was very talented in so many areas, music, financial and clerical skills, and assisting those in need physically and spiritually. She was an avid reader and wrote down many quotes from several sources and authors. All those which she shared with me were always focused on the building up of trust, gratitude, and reliance on God’s love. I have found a note that she had written on January 15, 2024. It was the last entry.

“Cold, Cold, Cold! Warm inside. T Y for the sun today. I miss the walks outside. Jesus, help me to live a life that is for you and those around me. T Y for all that you have given me & the wonderful sisters (esp. L. and H.C.) May I live my life fully as an S.P.”

Funeral services for Sister Clelia took place Thursday, February 8, and Friday, February 9, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A Wake took place from 2:30-4:30 p.m., on Thursday, February 8. Mass of Christian Burial was on Friday, February 9, at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Sister Clelia to the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

We welcome you to share your memories of Sister Clelia in the comment section below.

Sister Clelia Cecchetti (formerly Sister Rosina)

Complete Ministry

In Indiana: Teacher, Sacred Heart and St. Ann, Terre Haute (1963-66); Teacher, St. Joseph, Indianapolis, and St. Ann and St. Malachy, Brownsburg (1966-67); Accounts Manager, Sisters of Providence Central Business Office, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1989-93); Finance Clerk Cashier, Sisters of Providence Central Business Office, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1993-94); Residential Services, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2020-21); Volunteer Service for Providence Health Care, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2021-24).

In Maryland: Teacher, St. Clement, Lansdowne (1967-68); Teacher, Holy Redeemer, College Park (1975-87); Coordinator of Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick, St. Mary of the Mills Parish, Laurel (2013-15); Volunteer, Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick, St. Mary of the Mills Parish, Laurel (2015-16); Parish Visitor/clerical assistant, St. Mary of the Mills Parish, Laurel, LCWR, Silver Spring (2016-18); Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick, St. Mary of the Mills Parish, Laurel (2018-19); Volunteer Coordinator, Eucharistic Ministry to the Sick, St. Mary of the Mills Parish, (2020).

In Washington, D.C.: Teacher, St. Ann (1968-75); Receptionist, Basilica National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (1994-99); Administrative Secretary/Secretariat for Divine Worship, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (1999-2010); Volunteer at a private residence (2010-12).

In Massachusetts: Provincial Treasurer, St. Raphael Province, Chelsea (1988-89).