A funeral Mass for Sister Elizabeth Parham was celebrated June 16 at the Seton Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Sister Elizabeth died June 13 at Seton Residence in Evansville. She was 87 and had been a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul for 64 years.
Born in Kingsport, Tenn., Sister Elizabeth entered the Daughters of Charity in 1953 in St. Louis. She earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics and philosophy from Fontbonne College in 1956, a master’s degree in dietetics from St. Louis University in 1958, and a master’s degree in hospital administration from Trinity College in San Antonio, Texas, in 1974.
In the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Sister Elizabeth served as a nutrition instructor at Marillac College (1960-62) and as a dietitian at DePaul Hospital (1962-71). In addition, she served as a registered dietitian at hospitals in Wisconsin and California before moving into hospital administration. She was an administrator at hospitals in California and also served her community in a variety of roles, including as a local community superior. In 2010, Sister Elizabeth was missioned to Evansville, where she served in the ministry of prayer at Seton Residence until her death.
Sister Elizabeth is survived by a brother, Frank R. Parham of Mount Juliet, Tenn., and a sister, Ann P. Birthright of Nashville, Tenn.
