Sister Lolita Charleston (formerly Sister M. Phillipa), 83, a Sister of Mercy for 65 years, died Tuesday, July 26th at Warde Health Center in Windham, NH, after a brief illness. A native of Chicago, IL, she was the daughter of Raymond and Mathilda (Duval) Charleston.
Sister Lolita received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mount St. Mary College, Hooksett, NH, and pursued further studies in library science at Keene State College and the University of New Hampshire at Durham. She held a certificate in library science from Regis College in Weston, MA.
Sister Lolita was a dedicated teacher in elementary and secondary schools in New Hampshire. She taught at McDonald School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Patrick, and Mount St. Mary Day School, all in Manchester; at St. Peter School in Concord; St. Mary in Dover; and St. Mary in Claremont. She also taught English and history and Immaculata High School in Manchester. For many years Sister Lolita was librarian at Bishop Brady High School in Concord and Mount St. Mary High School in Nashua. She also served as business administrator and assistant librarian at Marian Court College in Swampscott, Massachusetts.
Family members include a sister, Dorothy Budzynski of Cicero, IL; a nephew, Michael Budzynski of Downers Grove, IL; and a niece, Jane Pacentine of Darien, IL.
Calling hours will be from 10 to 11 a.m., on Monday, August 1st followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Mercy Chapel, 21 Searles Road, Windham, NH, at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road, PO Box 420, Windham, NH 03087-0420. Burial will be at Saint Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, New Hampshire.