SISTER CARITA SHIELDS, SC, age 82, died at her convent, Fidelis House, in Greensburg, on Sunday, November 8, 2015. Born in Pittsburgh, Sister Carita entered the congregation of the Sisters of Charity on September 8, 1955, from St. Anselm Parish, Swissvale. Preceded in death by her parents, Hugh and Flora (Desmond) Shields, a brother, Hugh E., and two sisters, Elizabeth Shields Lydon and Kathleen Shields Walter, she is survived by a brother, Terrence R., a sister, Mrs. Mary Lou (Robert) Kost, nieces and nephews. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hill University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh. Sister Carita taught students in schools of the dioceses of Greensburg, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. She was principal at Holy Cross School in Youngwood from 1968-1978, at Holy Innocents School in Sheraden from 1978-1982, and at St. Therese School in Munhall from 1982-1987. She served as a developmental reading teacher and guidance counselor at Seton LaSalle High School until 1994. She began ministry as bookkeeper and later payroll manager at the Administrative offices of the Sisters of Charity, a position she held from 1994 until her death. Dedicated and hardworking, she also maintained warm relationships and celebrated life with family, friends and co-workers. Sister Carita said, at the time of her Golden Jubilee, “I’ve had 50 years of peace and contentment. Even though there have been a few bumps in the road, if I had it to do over again, I’d choose the same – borrowing the title of the movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”
