Sr. Maura Jean Parsons, CSJ, dies.
Funeral Mass was celebrated July 14 at Carondelet Center, Brentwood, for St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Maura Jean Parsons, longtime music teacher at Mount St. Mary's College, who died July 4. She was 87.

Born Nov. 24, 1920 in Chicago, Sister Parsons received her elementary and high school education in Illinois, Texas and California, graduated from San Fernando High School, and earned a bachelor's degree in music from UCLA. She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on Sept. 15, 1950; she received the habit and the name, Sister Maura Jean on March 19, 1951.

Beginning in March 1953, she taught religion, math and music at Cathedral Girls High School in San Diego, at St. Mary's Academy in Los Angeles, and returned to San Diego to teach at Our Lady of Peace Academy. While she was teaching, she earned an M.A. in Music History from Mount St. Mary's College as well as a California Lifetime Teaching Credential.

Sister Parsons taught music at Mount St. Mary's Doheny Campus in the mid-1960s for six years. In 1971 she was missioned to its Chalon Campus, where she taught organ students and was the assistant to Sister Teresita Espinosa, Chair of the Music Department, for 36 years.

In the Music Department, she taught organ and she assisted the faculty and students as a valued resource person. she also enjoyed participating in local and province community life and for years hosted the many members of her extended family at annual campus pool parties. Her sister Olive said that Maura took a morning swim almost every day.

Her sister friends regarded her affectionately as "always been calm, quiet and deeply peaceful, and a steady caring presence who shared her knowledge of music easily and willingly. She shall have music wherever she goes."

Maura Jean retired to Holy Family Community at Carondelet Center last October. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.