Martha Ann Rinderle, SSJ, 84, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania, died on December 9, 2022. She was born on September 1, 1938, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to the late Ferdinand and Marty Ann (Kreiger) Rinderle.
She graduated from Villa Maria Academy, Erie, in 1956, earned a BS degree in elementary education from Villa Maria College, Erie, in 1966, and an MS in earth sciences from Edinboro University in 1971. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from St. Joseph Home in Erie on August 29, 1956, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1964. She died in the 67th year of her religious life.
Sister Martha Ann taught at several Erie Diocesan schools, including Sacred Heart, Blessed Sacrament, Villa Maria Elementary, St. John the Baptist, Our Lady of Peace, St. Joseph, and Villa Maria Academy schools in Erie, and St. Mary’s in Reynoldsville, PA and St. Bernard in Bradford, PA. She was also the principal at St. Joseph School in Erie and St. Bernard School in Bradford. Additionally, she ministered as the Diocesan Chaplain for the Divorced and Separated. In her retirement, Sister Martha Ann assisted at the SSJ Community Living Center wherever she was needed.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters Martha Rinderle and Mary Ann Rinderle Miller; and dear friends Sr. Marie Eileen Moyer, SSJ, and Edward Smith. She is survived by several relatives, friends, and the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Friends may call at the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Living Center, 5031 West Ridge Road, Erie, on Monday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 4:30 p.m. The Mass will also be live-streamed on the Sisters of St. Joseph Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SSJErie/ and the SSJ Erie YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/SSJErie/live. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery.
4 Comments on “We remember . . . Martha Ann Rinderle, SSJ”
Sister Martha Ann taught all five of our daughters when they were students at Villa. She is a terrific lady and a fantastic teacher. When one of our daughters was home sick for a long time she came to our house and ate dinner with a number of times and checked in on our daughter. A good lady!! Sending love to her. Cathy and Pat Kloecker
A beautiful Sister! She taught my eldest well!
Rest in Peace Sr. Martha Ann!
Your class was my very first academic “challenge” at Villa, or ever! Honors Earth Science. I still remember sitting there, as a little freshman, in the front row at the long, black tables in your room, petrified of you, thinking how in the heck will I survive this! Thanks for all you did for us girls, making us tough AND smart! 💪👩🎓💙
Rinda Kolodziejczak VMA c/o 1992
So sorry for this loss. Peace to Sr.
Patty