October 6, 2010

OBITUARY: ‘Real flying nun’ Loretto Sister Rosemary Fiori dies

By Denver Catholic Register

Sister Rosemary Fiori (formerly known as Sister Janet Ann), S.L., a longtime teacher and computer coordinator at St. Mary’s Academy in Englewood, Colo., who had earned her private pilot’s license at age 61, died Sept. 14.  She was the first Loretto Sister to become a licensed pilot.

Sister Fiori died peacefully at home after a long illness.  She was 78 years old and in her 60th year as a religious sister.

Born April 16, 1932, the Denver native was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Marreni) Fiori. She entered the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross in 1950 from St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Denver, receiving the habit on April 25, 1951. She professed her first vows April 25, 1953, and her final vows Aug. 15, 1956.

Sister Fiori received her bachelor’s degree in music from Webster College (now university) in Webster Groves, Mo., in 1958. She earned a master’s in music education from De Paul University in Chicago in 1966 and a master’s in educational technology from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass., in 1986.

In her earlier years of ministry she taught music at diocesan schools in St. Louis (1953-1958). She then taught music in Denver, first at Loretto Heights College (1958-1971) and then Blessed Sacrament School (1971-1975).

In 1975, Sister Fiori began teaching music to students at the elementary level at St. Mary’s Academy. She continued in this role until 1986, when she began teaching high school students there. Sister Fiori then served at the academy from 1988 to 1995 as the computer coordinator and also taught pre-schoolers and kindergartners through fifth grade. It was during this time she established the first technology program at St. Mary’s.

Sister Fiori began serving as a computer consultant in 1996. From 2002 to her death, she was involved in community service. In addition to her education career and consulting, Sister Fiori worked in the Denver area in parish ministry as a eucharistic minister, as a sandwich-maker for area shelters, hospice worker and beloved reading tutor for English as a Second Language children in her neighborhood. She collected clothing, food and furniture for the poor on a regular basis, and was an ardent protector of the environment in her recycling efforts.

Sister Fiori’s interest in flying began in childhood when her father, a member of the Colorado Air National Guard, took her to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver and let her sit in the cockpit of a plane. Her dream of becoming a pilot, however, wasn’t to be realized for many years. Late in life she received flying lessons from her family as a birthday gift. She took the lessons at Centennial Airport in Denver and received her private pilot license in January 1994.  Many of the people at Centennial Airport, reported a 1994 Loretto publication, fondly referred to her as “the real flying nun.” 

Friend and caregiver, Sister Mary McAuliffe, wrote of Sister Fiori that she “had a tenacious spirit of faith through which she vigorously embraced life. … She impacted countless lives with her quiet wisdom, her quick wit and abiding care for all.”

A funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 20 at Church of the Risen Christ. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Loretto Development Retirement Fund, Development Office, 4000 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton, CO 80123 or to the Bridge Community, 3101 W. Hillside Place, Denver, CO  80129.