Lois Ellen Rountree

 

Lois Rountree passed away peacefully on December 17, 2022 at Kaiser Hospital in Irvine, CA after a long battle with Alzheimers Disease. She was born in Red Bank, New Jersey and her family moved to San Diego in 1946 where she graduated from high school at Our Lady of Peace Academy in June of 1953. Her beloved mother passed away three months later on September 12, 1953. In February 1954 she entered the novitiate order of St Joseph of  Corondolet.  She became Sister Mary Pius and taught school. Look magazine put her on the cover of their magazine when they wrote the article about the “Vanishing Nun.” She left the convent in 1971 after 17 years. She applied for a job with the Los Angeles School district and became a teacher. She received two Master’s degrees, one in teaching and the other in school counseling. She worked at Russell Elementary School in the Watts/Compton area and lived in Downey.  She served underprivileged kids who were gifted and talented her entire career. She was a very talented artist. She later moved to Mission Viejo, CA and lived there for 18 years. She was predeceased by her mother Cathryn Grace O’Brien Rountree and father Howard Braxton and stepmother Ruth White Rountree, her brothers, Neal Thomas and Lee Cornelius and her nephew Stephen Joseph. Her surviving family members are her brother Paul Rountree of Newberg, Oregon; her nieces Jean Fisher (Mark), Michelle Bender (William) of San Diego, CA, Kristen O’Brien (Wesley) of North Carolina, Mary Rountree of Montana, Janey Rountree of Los Angeles.; her nephews Larry Rountree of Fallbrook, CA and Will Rountree (Michelle)of Wilmington, North Carolina. She is also survived by three great nieces Keely Fisher of San Diego, CA, Emma O’Brien of North Carolina and Frances Natchez of Los Angeles, CA; two great nephews Kyle Fisher (Samantha) of Portland, Oregon and Pierce O’Brien of North Carolina. The love of her life of 51 years Tony DeRosa cared for her daily until she passed. She will be deeply missed.