Sister Maria Tasto, 76

Sister Maria Tasto, 76, of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, died at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, 2014, in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center.

A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Sister Maria was born January 25, 1938, the second of five children born to Roman and Kathryn (Cunningham) Tasto. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1954 and made her profession of monastic vows in 1956.

She is survived by one sister, Kathleen Gibbons, of Westfield, Indiana; two brothers, Father John Tasto of San Ysidro, California, and Greg Tasto and wife Gail of San Diego, California; nieces and nephews; and members of her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Margaret Loringer.

Sister Maria was a teacher at St. Joseph, Holy Redeemer, and Mater Dei High School in Evansville, and St. Benedict’s College and Marian Heights Academy in Ferdinand. For many years she served in the spirituality ministry of the Sisters of St. Benedict, directing retreats and spiritual and personal growth programs, and serving as a spiritual director. She served on the leadership team for the Sisters of St. Benedict and was a facilitator and consultant for religious communities. She is the author of A Transformed Life DVD and Guidebook, and Transforming Power of Lectio Divina.

Visitation will be at the monastery on Wednesday, July 16, from 2:30-6:45 p.m. EST and on Thursday, July 17, from 1-4:15 p.m. EST. A wake service will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT. The funeral Mass will be on Thursday, July 17, at 4:30 p.m. EST in the monastery church, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery.

Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.