Sister M. Camilla Gertrude Morris
February 18, 2022
Born in:
Oakland, California
Resided in:
Fremont, California
Sister Camilla Morris, a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family for 70 years, died very gently in the evening of February 18 at the Motherhouse of the Sisters in Fremont, two weeks after her 105th birthday. Sister Camilla was born Marie Gertrude Morris on February 6, 1917, in Oakland, California, and entered the congregation from Saint Joseph the Worker Parish in Berkeley on January 6, 1952, at the age of 34. 2022 would have been her 70th Jubilee year.
Sister Camilla was proud to have served her country from 1943 to the end of World War II as a member of the WAVES, the women’s branch of the US Navy. After being honorably discharged, she worked in several jobs but never gave up an earlier dream of becoming a Sister. In 1952 that dream was realized when she joined the Holy Family Sisters.
Beginning as a catechist, Sister Camilla served in parishes in the dioceses of Oakland, Fresno, Sacramento and San Francisco, adding visiting the sick and bringing the Eucharist to shut-ins as part of her responsibilities. In 1979 she was chosen Secretary General of the Sisters, and moved to the Motherhouse, where she remained until her death. In 1983 she became Plant Manager of the Motherhouse, and in 1987 she retired from active ministry to begin years of service in various volunteer capacities to the community.
In addition to sewing, Sister Camilla loved the Oakland A’s baseball team and frequently enjoyed going to home games while she was able. She was honored in anticipation of her 100th birthday by being invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch at an A’s game on July 3, 2016. Her birthday party this year on February 6, her 105th, followed a baseball theme.
Services will be held at the Sisters’ oratory in Fremont, with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Family.
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Faithful and full of love for others. Sister M Camilla leaves with a great example of how to live bringing glory to God.
I am so blessed to have spent some time with her from time to time.