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SISTER ALFREDA MALONE, 96, died Feb. 13, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 71st year of religious life. She was a native of Raywick, Ky. Sister Alfreda was a prayerful woman with an unceasing energy to serve wherever she was needed. She was a teacher and principal in Kentucky from 1952-65. She was registrar at Brescia College, Owensboro (1965-68 and 1978-90). She was secretary to the Leadership Council at Maple Mount (1968-76) and ministered in health care at the Mount (1977-78). She spent a year as a religious education secretary in New Mexico. She was administrative assistant to J.C. Malone Associates in Louisville (1990-2004), then ministered to her family and others in the Hodgenville, Ky., area from 2004-09. From 2010-18, she was assistant to the archivist at the Motherhouse. Survivors include members of her religious community; sisters Wanda D’Angelo, of Boston, Ky., and Aretha Reckley, Tarzana, Calif.; brothers Joseph Clellan Malone and John R. Malone, both of Louisville; nieces and nephews. Her funeral was Feb. 24, with burial in the Memorials for an Ursuline Sister may take the form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Thank you.
Sister Dianna Ortiz mourned across the country People around the United States organizations. and beyond shared in the loss of During a speech at Brescia University in Ursuline Sister Dianna Ortiz, who Owensboro, Ky., in 2006, Sister Dianna said, “When I died Feb. 19 after a brief battle with speak of torture, including my own, I am not speaking cancer. She was 62. of myself alone. Rather, I am speaking of and for every Sister Dianna turned her own person who has fallen prey to this crime – the dead as abduction into a ministry to help well as those still living. Yet the response to my words survivors of torture worldwide and is too often at the level of a personal problem and not became a voice for the voiceless. She a social issue.” died in Washington, D.C., where since 2020 she had She served as deputy director of Pax Christi USA served as deputy director of Pax Christi USA. The in Washington from 2010-2012. She served with the group is a Catholic peace and justice movement that Center of Concern on its Education for Justice Project rejects war, violence and systemic racism. in Washington from 2012-18. In 2020, she returned Sister Dianna taught at schools to Pax Christi. The organization in Hawesville and Owensboro, Ky., said this about her on its website before doing mission work with following her death. Mayan children in Guatemala. “As anyone who ever While there in November 1989 she encountered Dianna knows, she was abducted by government forces was an extraordinary person. and tortured for 24 hours before We have lost a member of our she escaped. No one was ever family, the heart at the center of charged for her assault. our life together as a staff who The memories of her life before lifted all of us with her unceasing her torture were lost. Following encouragement, support, kindness Sister Dianna Ortiz lights a candle at a years of prayer and counseling, she and gentleness. Our heartbreak Torture Abolition and Survivors Support became a grassroots organizer for Coalition vigil across from the White House and grief are only tempered by our in 2005. The candles represented countries the Guatemalan Human Rights gratitude and love for all Dianna that permitted or in some way condoned Commission in Washington (1994has been for us, and for the rest torture, including the U.S. 2000). In 1998, she founded the and peace that she now has. The Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition entire Pax Christi USA community mourns with all (TASSC) International in Washington, to advocate for those who know and love Di, and we give thanks for the abolition of torture and to support its victims. Her the time that she was among us.” book, “The Blindfold’s Eyes: My Journey Sister Dianna lived with the Assisi Community in from Torture to Truth,” was published Washington, home to people of different backgrounds in 2002. She testified before Congress who pledge to live a simple lifestyle and work for concerning human rights and torture social justice. One member of that community, Marie and received numerous honors for her Dennis, said this about Sister Dianna on the Ursuline work from peace and victims advocate website.
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