Mary Rita Matthew’s life began in Detroit, Mich. Her dad, Alva Matthews, worked at Ford Motor Company. Her mom, Grace Compton Matthews, would return to Axtel, Ky., to be with her mother, Alice Pool Compton, when her babies were to be delivered. Mary Rita’s grandmother was a midwife. Mary Rita was baptized on Nov. 30, 1929, at St. Anthony Church in Axtel, by Father Jerome Hoeff, C.PP.S., and given the name Mary Rita for St. Rita’s Church in Detroit. She joined her brothers Joseph, Gerald, Francis and Claud, and later welcomed Patricia Ruth, who lived for only nine days, and Thomas Alva.
Mary Rita made her First Communion on June 27, 1937, at St. Anthony, Axtel, and was confirmed on October 07, 1941, by Most Reverend Francis R. Cotton at St. Anthony.
Mary Rita’s education began at Mattingly Public School. By 3rd grade, Father Friedel began St. Anthony School and asked for Ursuline Sisters to staff it. Even though it was 3 miles away, the children immediately changed from the closer public one room school to the Catholic school. It was a renovated horse barn. They were not on the bus route, so that was a long walk each day to and from school. After eighth grade, Sister Theodora was instrumental in getting a scholarship for Mary Rita to attend Mount Saint Joseph Academy. It was too far to walk to catch the bus to the public high school.
During her senior year retreat, she talked to the retreat master. She told him she wanted to join the convent, but she wanted to wait a couple of years to work to pay her parents back. He told her: “Don’t keep God waiting.”
On August 14, 1950, Mary Rita received the veil and became Sister Mary Angela. Two years later, she made her temporary profession. In 1952, she began her teaching career. She taught in Kentucky, Nebraska, and New Mexico, and was a principal in several schools, including the Academy. Later she worked in parish ministry as a director of religious education in Kentucky and New Mexico. In 2005 she returned to the Motherhouse and worked in the Community Post Office. In 2006 until 2017, she worked as a Librarian at the Motherhouse. She then moved to Saint Joseph Villa and became a member of the Powerhouse of Prayer until her death.
Sister Mary Angela, 91, died on Sunday, April 5, 2020.
In compliance with health and public safety directives due to the Covid 19 virus, the vigil and funeral services were private. The funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at 10:30 in the Motherhouse Chapel. Burial followed in the Convent cemetery.