Sr. Mary Catherine Beda, CSJ, died Nov. 21 inKalamazoo. She was 89 and had been in religious life for 72 years.

Mary Catherine Julia Beda was born in Chetek, Wisc. on Dec. 15, 1921, the daughter of Walter and Amelia (Krok) Beda. She was a member of St. Edward Parish in Mendon, Michigan at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on June 22, 1939. She received the name Sister Fredrika at her reception on January 8, 1940, but later returned to the use of her baptismal name. She pronounced first vows on January 9, 1942 and final vows on January 8, 1946.

Her teaching career brought her to several schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit, including Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, St. Michael in Pontiac, St. Rita in Detroit. She also taught at St. Monica in Kalamazoo. Later, she ministered again in Nazareth, Florida and Arizona. She returned to Fontbonne Manor in Nazareth as a pastoral care minister in 1995.

Sister Mary Catherine Beda is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass was Nov. 23 in the Holy Family Chapel.

Memorials to Congregation of St. Joseph, 3427 Gull Road, PO Box 29, Nazareth, 49074.