Sister Mary Renetta Rumpz

Sister Mary Renetta served her religious community for 64 years.
September 27, 1941 — October 17, 2024

Sister Mary Renetta Rumpz, age 83 and 64 years in religious life, was born on September 27, 1941, at a momentous time in history: during World War II. She entered eternal life on October 17, 2024.

True to the family tradition of having a name that starts with the letter “R,” Sister Renetta was the third of eight siblings of Sylvester and Leocadia (Prusak) Rumpz: Raphael+, Richard+, Rita+ (SM Renetta), Roberta, Reginald, Roderick+, Randy+ and Renee. Throughout her life, Sister was very proud to recite the names of each brother and sister to anyone who would ask about her family.

Baptized and confirmed at St. Francis Church, Detroit, Rita attended the parish grade school and completed high school at St. Andrew in Detroit. Growing up with five brothers toughened Sister for future ministries. Perhaps that is why she received a football on one of her birthdays and often played baseball with her brothers. Fishing and playing pinochle were two of her all-time favorite pastimes. Following graduation, she was employed as a cashier at the A&P Supermarket (leading her to many years of financial prowess). The gentle Lord, however, kept tugging at her heart, and finally she answered His call. Invested with the Felician habit, Rita received the name Sister Mary Renetta. First Vows were pronounced in 1962 and Final Profession in 1968.

Sister Renetta earned a bachelor’s degree from Madonna University in 1967 and a master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration from Xavier University in 1982, followed by a year of internship at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital. While at Xavier, Sister was part of a team that won first prize in a national competition of financial management and regulation conducted by the American College of Hospital Executives.

Assigned to elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1963, Sister progressively advanced through grade levels during the first five years: 1st grade at St. Valentine, Redford; 7th and 8th grades at Our Lady of Refuge, Orchard Lake; and grades 9 through 12 at St. Casimir High School, Detroit, teaching business classes and religion.

The year 1968 was a turning point in Sister Renetta’s life. At the request of Sister Mary Columbine Radzjlowski, President of St. Mary Hospital, and Sister Mary Calasantia Radzilowski, Vice President, Sister Renetta joined the staff at St. Mary Hospital in Livonia. From day one she exhibited a no-nonsense business approach along with a keen sense of humor, and always turned to St. Joseph for support and advice when building a new facility or planning additions to buildings.

Sister initially served as Business Office and Data Processing Supervisor, then as Director of Fiscal Services until 1980. Recognizing her sharp intellect and vision (she could spot numerical errors in an instant that others had toiled over for hours), Sister was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of St. Mary Hospital, a position she held for 16 years. During this time, along with President Sister Mary Modesta, Sister coordinated many hospital and renovation projects that included the St. Mary Hospital Pavilion, Marian Professional Building, Marywood Nursing Center and the west addition, which housed the Miracle of Life Maternity Center, Marian Women’s Center, Surgical and Central Processing, as well as the St. Mary Child Care Center. On January 1, 1998, Sister Renetta was appointed President and CEO of St. Mary Hospital and earned the title of Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), an international professional society of healthcare executives.

Sister Mary Renetta once stated: “Planning and working together for the future for St. Mary Hospital brick by brick, has been not only a challenge but also the fulfillment of a dream to meet the needs of God’s people in the communities we serve.”

The tides of healthcare were rapidly changing, and a stand-alone community hospital proved difficult to maintain. In 1992, an affiliate relationship with William Beaumont Hospital resulted in new programs and services including a Clinical Information Systems Department and electronic bedside charting.

Knowing that the relationship with William Beaumont Hospital was limited, in October 1998, the Felician Sisters of Livonia and the Sisters of Mercy Detroit Regional Community announced a long-term sponsorship arrangement between the two Catholic congregations.

In May 2000, Trinity Health was formed through a merger between Holy Cross Health System in South Bend, Indiana, and Mercy Health Services in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Then, on January 24, 2000, the Administration of St. Mary Hospital transitioned to Trinity Health, the third largest Catholic health system in the United States. June 1st officially marked the beginning of St. Mary Mercy Hospital (later changed to Trinity Heath Hospital-Livonia) under a new President, Mr. David Spivey. Sister Renetta was appointed a member of the Trinity Health Board of Trustees.

As the door to ministry in healthcare closed, another window opened. During the Felician Sister’s Provincial Chapter of 2000 in Livonia, Sister Mary Renetta was elected Provincial Minister. The tides of religious congregations were also turbulent, and in 2009 the Felician Sisters of North America and Canada witnessed the dissolution of eight provinces into one. Sister Renetta was assigned to other ministries in Livonia and served a brief interim as Treasurer General in Rome.

In 2006, Sister received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Madonna University. Along with varied administrative responsibilities, she participated in the Planning Committee for the 125th Anniversary of the Felician Sisters in North America, and on the Provincial House Renovation Committee. Membership on hospital, community boards, and civic organizations included: St. Mary Mercy Hospital/Trinity Health, William Beaumont Hospital, Marian Village Corporation, Madonna University, Senior Clergy Village, Southeast Michigan Health and Hospital Council, Michigan Health and Hospital Association on Catholic Health Care, Metropolitan Detroit Area Hospital Services, Inc., and the Livonia Chamber of Commerce.

Through her visionary leadership in the Felician Congregation and in healthcare, and with a strong character, often sprinkled with good humor, Sister Mary Renetta was effective in the lives of many people. Whether spearheading a construction project, developing a new service, overseeing a community program, or being actively involved in the reconfiguration of the North American Felician Provinces, Sister met each challenge with deep faith, Franciscan joy, and boundless energy.

In 2013, Sister transitioned from St. Mary Convent to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent in Livonia, where she suffered from various health conditions over the next ten years. However, her sense of humor and ability to joke with others always peeked through. In the early hours of October 17, 2024, it appeared that death was not far off. As sisters prayed at her bedside, Sister Mary Renetta slipped peacefully into God’s eternal embrace and returned to the Lord she so faithfully served for 83 years, 64 in religious life.

Sister Renetta is survived by her sisters, Roberta Wiley and Renee Lee (Garry) and brother, Reginald, along with nieces and nephews.

On October 24, 2024, Morning Prayer began at 10:30 a.m. in Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel, Livonia, Michigan. Very Reverend Canon Walter Ptak celebrated the Mass of Resurrection at 11:00 a.m. assisted by Trinity Health-Livonia chaplains Rev. Luke Iwugi and Rev. Peter Opara, with several other priests in attendance. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.

Sister Mary Renetta, we are grateful for your servant leadership and the many gifts you shared with us. May you rest in peace.

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Serving where needed since 1874

Founded in Poland in 1855, the Felician Sisters are a congregation of women religious inspired by the spiritual ideals of their foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, and Saints Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi and Felix of Cantalice. Arriving in North America in 1874 following Blessed Mary Angela’s directive “to serve where needed,” they helped to weave the social service system. Today, the Felician Sisters founded, sponsor or support through the presence of our sisters, more than 40 ministries – all continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the people they serve.

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