Sister Judith Ann Levins (Mary Patrick), 79, beloved member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, died in the Daughters of the Heart of Mary Healthcare Unit, Holyoke, Mass. on February 16, 2017. A native of Rutland, VT she was the daughter of the late P. Barrett and Jean (McKay) Levins.
Sister Judith entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rutland in 1955 from Christ the King Parish, Rutland, and became a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield when the two Congregations merged in 2001. She was graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy, Rutland and earned a B.S. degree from the College of St. Joseph, Rutland and a Master’s in theology from the University of Notre Dame. Sister also studied at Divine Word Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.
Sister Judith ministered in Rutland as teacher at St. Peter School, Mount St. Joseph Academy and the College of St. Joseph, where she also served as campus minister. She ministered at St. Francis de Sales Parish, Bennington in Religious Education. She served her Congregation in several positions: Novice Director, 1974-78; Vice President, 1978-81; and President, 1988-94. Starting in 1998 she ministered at St. Peter Parish, Rutland as Pastoral Associate. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Valiant Woman Award granted by Church Women United of Rutland.
In addition to her Sisters in Community, she is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins and their families and by her sister-in-law, Alberta Levins. She was predeceased by her siblings Mary Catherine McKay, William Andrew Levins, Patrick Barrett Levins, Jr., Joan Riebold, T. Douglas Levins, and Michael Joseph Levins.
The wake will take place at St. Peter Church, Convent Ave., Rutland at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 23, followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11:00. Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Rutland will take place in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of St. Joseph Administrative Offices, 577 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.