Sr. Patrice Vales, S.C.

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Patrice Vales died on Jan. 8, 2026, at the age of 94 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility for the Sisters of Charity. She was a Sister of Charity for 76 years. 

Sister Patrice was born on July 20, 1931, to John and Harriet (Mantkowski) Vales in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the oldest of three children, with one sister and one brother. 

Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Sister Patrice attended Holy Name Grade School and Holy Name High School, graduating in 1949. Taught by the Sisters of Charity throughout her early education, she felt deeply drawn to their way of life. Inspired by their love of God, kindness, and spirit of charity, she entered the congregation on Sept. 5, 1949, shortly after high school graduation.

Sister Patrice earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati in 1962 and later received a master’s degree in education from St. John’s Teachers College in Cleveland in 1973. 

Sister Patrice’s active ministries spanned more than 65 years. She began her teaching ministry in the primary grades at St. Anthony School in Kenton, Ohio, in 1951. In 1957, she was assigned to St. Mary School in Chillicothe, Ohio, where she served until 1961, when she went to St. John the Baptist School in Chillum, Maryland. Being so near the White House and the activities of government offered the Sisters many additional educational enrichment opportunities.

 In 1969, Sister Patrice was sent to St. Gabriel School in Glendale, Ohio, where she taught first grade. She often joked that she did not want to teach anyone taller than she was at 4 feet, 11 inches.

In 1971, Sister Patrice chose to teach at St. Albert the Great School in Kettering, Ohio, beginning a 35-year relationship with the parish community. She initially taught language arts to primary grade students. In 1986, she was invited to establish and lead the parish’s first pastoral ministry program, serving in that role until 2006. Along with her team, she visited the sick, offered bereavement support, taught RCIA classes, and coordinated Communion to the homebound. Her ministry touched every aspect of parish life and included an outreach to Jamaica, where parishioners traveled to the village of Mandeville to provide building and repair services to those living in poverty.

Sister Patrice retired in 2006 and moved to Cincinnati to be nearer the Motherhouse, beginning a new chapter of her life and ministry with her Sisters. A constant in her days was her dedication to helping the senior Sisters remain involved, valued, and included in community life – a commitment that extended naturally into a wide range of volunteer activities. She contributed her time to the Communications Office, served as a docent in the Archives, delivered packages, ran errands, and assisted with art classes in Mother Margaret Hall. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, she expanded her service to the Archives by indexing and digitizing materials and helping prepare displays throughout the Motherhouse halls. Reflecting on the integration of prayer and service in her life, she once said, “My relationship with God is nourished by a dedicated prayer life, which would be incomplete without my service to others. To separate my life from my service would be like cutting my arm off.”

Looking back on her 54 rewarding years in the classroom, Sister Patrice often shared that teaching the youngest school-age children kept her young in spirit and enthusiasm. “Their comments about God were beautiful,” she said. “They loved listening to my stories.”

 Sister Patrice also enjoyed participating in the Earth Justice Circle and regularly invited Sisters and Associates to reflect on the gift of Earth through her monthly email messages. She especially valued stimulating conversations with friends and felt deeply blessed by her awareness of God’s abiding presence in her life. 

She delighted in watching the Dayton Flyers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cincinnati Reds after a day of service. She treasured time to read, relax with her cat, and work crossword puzzles. No Community gathering felt complete without Patrice lending her creative touch to the table decorations. Her joyful presence and generous spirit will be deeply missed.

 Sister Patrice is survived by her sister, Sister Florence Vales, OSC, and by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert. 

Sisters, family, and friends will greet visitors in the back of the Motherhouse Chapel from 9-10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel. Burial will follow in the Sisters of Charity Cemetery. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati website at www.srcharitycinti.org.

Memorials may be made in memory of Sister Patrice Vales to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Road, Mount St. Joseph, Ohio 45051.