Aston, PA — Sister Marie Regina Leis, OSF, died in Assisi House on August 10. She was eighty-two years of age and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for fifty-one years. Sister Marie Regina was born in Metuchen, New Jersey, where she was a member of St. Francis Parish and graduated from Metuchen High School. Prior to her entrance to the congregation in 1952, she worked for twelve years as a secretary at the Elizabethtown Consolidated Gas Company in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She earned a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Latin (with a minor in Greek) from Villanova University. She spent two summers in Italy (one of them on a Fulbright Scholarship), studying Roman history and culture. Sister Marie Regina ministered primarily in secondary education, where her specialty was teaching Latin. She enjoyed reading, studying history, doing cross-stitch, and writing poetry. Several of her poems were published in The Cord, a publication of the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University.

Sister Marie Regina ministered for twenty-seven years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She taught at Hallahan High School 1955-1961 and at St. Pius X High School, Pottstown (1982-1984). From 1986-1993 she served as Congregational Secretary for the Sisters of St. Francis. From 1994-1997 she worked in the archives at Neumann College in Aston. In 1997 she moved to Assisi House where she remained until her death.

Sister Marie Regina ministered for ten years at Padua Academy in the Diocese of Wilmington. She taught Latin and served as Vice Principal and Curriculum Coordinator.

Sister Marie Regina’s seven years in the Diocese of Trenton included teaching at McCorristin High School (1964-1971).

Sister Marie Regina also ministered in the Diocese of Harrisburg where she taught at York Catholic High School (1971-1972) and in the Diocese of Allentown where she taught at Allentown Central Catholic High School (1984-1986).

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, on Wednesday, August 16. A Christian