Sister Rita Lambert, CSJ, dies

Sister Rita Lambert CSJ (formerly Sr. Mary Matthew) a Sister of St. Joseph for 75 years, entered eternal life at Mt. St. Mary Retirement Center in Wichita, Kansas on Nov. 7, 2024 at the age of 94. 

Sister Rita was born on Jan. 25, 1930 in Brignac, Louisiana to the late Drozin Mitchel Lambert and Eunice Marie Hebert. Sister Rita was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Louis John Lambert, Guy Anthony Lambert, Leonard Joseph Lambert, Lionel Paul Lambert, Victor A. Lambert and her sisters Verly Lambert Loque and Lee Ola Lambert Keller. She is survived by her brothers Matthew J. Lambert and Donald V. Lambert and several nieces and nephews.
Sister Rita Lambert CSJ
Sister Rita graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge in 1949 and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans, Louisiana in Sept. 1949. She professed final vows on Aug. 16, 1954.

 Sr. Rita graduated from Loyola University with a B.S. in Education in 1962 and earned a Masters in Religious Education from Notre Dame Seminary in 1977. She received a Certificate for Spiritual Direction from the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1993.

Sister Rita’s life of service began at St. Rose School in New Orleans, Louisiana and continued in Catholic elementary schools throughout South Louisiana and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. She continued her love of education as Religious Education Coordinator at Sacred Heart in Morgan City, Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Divine Providence in Metaire, and Director of Pastoral Ministries and Director of Religious Education at St. Mary of False River Catholic Church in New Roads until her retirement in 2009. Sister Rita was recipient of the “Sister of the Year” award presented by the Knights of Columbus in 1977.

Following her retirement, Sister Rita resided at the Congregation of St. Joseph’s Hundred Oaks Retirement Center in Baton Rouge until May of 2016 when she moved to Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare in New Orleans. Sister Rita moved to Mount St. Mary Retirement Center’s Marian Hall April 25, 2023.

Homecoming will be at Mount St. Mary Resurrection Chapel on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 at 3 p.m. with wake to follow at 6 p.m.

Mass of Resurrection followed by internment at Mount St. Mary Cemetery will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Memorials in her name may be sent to the Congregation of St. Joseph Retirement Fund, Dear Neighbor Ministries or Stepstone Ministry at 3700 E. Lincoln St., Wichita, KS 67218.