Sister Mary Lois Corporandy, RSM

July 18, 1928 - January 3, 2024

Sister Mary Lois died at the age of 95 on January 3, 2024 at Mercy Care Center in Oakland. She was born Clarisse in 1928 to Ernest and Wilhelmina Van Kreyl Corporandy in San Mateo. She grew up with her sister, Louise and brother, Ernie and graduated from St. Catherine’s School and Mercy High School in Burlingame. She worked as a Medical Technologist at St. Mary’s Hospital for two years then entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1948, and professed her vows in 1951 taking the name Sister Mary Lois.

She was on the faculty of Mercy High School San Francisco for 29 years teaching science and mathematics as well as religion. She later served in school administration as Vice Principal and Principal. She earned degrees in biology, mathematics and administration from San Francisco State University and Catholic University of America.

Following a year of sabbatical, she returned to the lab at St. Mary’s in 1983 where she worked as a technologist while also serving on boards and committees until she retired in 2012.

Sister Mary Lois was known for her precision and analytic mind that served her well in all her ministries. She was able to do the scheduling by hand for the school of 800 students long before computers assisted in this task.

She retired to Marian Oaks in 2013 where she was an active member of the community. She especially enjoyed the antics of her pet cat Sandy. She was an avid fan of the SF Giants and Forty-Niners, rarely missing watching a game. With other sisters she was a speedy player of RumiCube.

She is survived by nephews, Michael, Robert and John; niece, Janette; grandnieces and nephews; and her loving community of the Sisters of Mercy. Welcoming and vigil service will be held on January 11 at 3 p.m. at Marian Oaks Life Center, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Marian Oaks followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma. Memorial gifts may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, Calif. 94010.