Sr. Elizabeth Troha, Osu

Sr. Elizabeth Troha

Teacher, parish minister, cheerleader of the elderly.

Sister Elizabeth Troha (formerly Sister Catherine of Siena) enjoyed people and engaged with them in a variety of ministries throughout her 65 years as an Ursuline. The former teacher, pastoral minister and T’ai chi leader died January 16 at Regina Health Center, Richfield, where she had resided since March. She was 85.

Elizabeth Troha was born July 9, 1928, youngest of 10 children born to Leo and Veronica (nee Stokely) Troha. Raised in Euclid, Ohio, the Villa Angela Academy graduate joined the Ursulines from St. Christine Parish in 1946, following in the footsteps of older sister Mary (Sister Rosalia) who had entered two years before. Sister Elizabeth professed final vows in 1952. She earned an undergraduate degree in education from St. John College and later studied theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkley, California. She was a certified pastoral minister in the Cleveland Diocese.

Sister Elizabeth taught 38 years in elementary schools throughout the diocese, including St. Columbkille, St. Francis de Sales (Parma), St. Mary Magdalene (Willowick), St. Mary (Mentor), St. Charles Borromeo (Parma), Our Lady of Peace (Cleveland), St. Joseph (Collinwood), St. Ann (Cleveland Heights), Immaculate Conception (Willoughby), and St. John Bosco (Parma Heights). After a second assignment at St. Charles, Sister Elizabeth discerned a call to a change in ministry.

After a year of theology study in Berkeley, she served as pastoral minister at St. Robert Parish (Euclid), then at Holy Spirit Parish, Avon Lake. While others her age contemplated retirement Sister Liz decided to pursue an interest in gerontology and participated in a training program at Fairhill Center for the Aging, which ushered in the third and final phase of her active ministry, ministering with the elderly at Fairhill, Ursuline Sophia Center, Montefiore Nursing Home, and Myers High Rise. She was a T’ai chi and yoga instructor and also gave motivational presentations on how to “live until you die.” Sister Liz retired from active ministry in 2012.

Sister Liz will be remembered for her youthful outlook and gentle spirit. She was a dedicated teacher and minister, a woman of faith and a lover of life, a loving sister and aunt, and a loyal friend. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Donations in her name can be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.

The wake will be on MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014 AT 3:OO PM at the Ursuline Motherhouse, 2600 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on MONDAY AT 7:00 PM in the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity. Burial service will be on TUESDAY AT 9:30 AM in the Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity. Interment will follow at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon.