Sister Claudia Lewis

Sister Claudia was born Mary Margaret Lewis on Dec. 8, 1907. She died on May 23, 2005. She was 97 years old and had been a Sister of Providence for 79 years.

Sister Claudia entered the Congregation on Nov. 21, 1925. She professed first vows on Feb. 24, 1929, and final vows on Feb. 26, 1934.

Sister Claudia began her teaching ministry in 1928 at St. Ann, Terre Haute, Ind. She taught in other schools in Indiana, as well as schools in Illinois, Massachusetts, California and Texas. She returned to the Woods in 1983 and volunteered in a variety of ways.

She was diagnosed with cancer in 1930 and had four cancer surgeries during a 28-plus year span. She received an award on her 94th birthday for being the longest-living cancer survivor in the state of Indiana.