January 26, 2011

A Memorial Mass for Sister of the Precious Blood Mary Iona Taylor was celebrated Jan. 19 at Salem Heights in Dayton, the community’s central house. Sister Iona, 97, died Jan. 26 at the Maria Joseph Center. She was a Precious Blood Sister for 82 years.

A native of Dayton, Sister Iona entered the community on Feb. 2, 1929. She spent 60 years in educational ministry as a teacher, principal, reading specialist and consultant. She served in Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, California, Indiana, Michigan and Louisiana. In the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, she taught in Coldwater, Dayton, Anna and Maria Stein.

Upon retiring from educational ministry in 1988, Sister Iona served as a pastoral minister, primarily working with the elderly. In 2002 she moved to Salem Heights. Declining health necessitated her move to Emma Hall at the Maria Joseph Center in 2008.

Sister Iona’s body was donated to science.