Four nuns who served in Yakima marking milestone anniversaries

Eighteen Sisters of Providence from around the Northwest will observe milestone anniversaries of their religious service during a celebration Aug. 6 in Seattle.

The Jubilee celebration for the Catholic nuns begins at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 7000 35th Ave. S.W., Seattle.

Four sisters have served in Yakima -- Maryann Benoit (Sister Valerie), Scholastica Lee (Sister Scholastica Mary), Lynn Chappell (Sister Inez Elizabeth) and Sister Patricia Eley.

Benoit, who is celebrating her 70th year as a nun, was born in Yakima and graduated from St. Joseph Academy. She taught school in Yakima, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Seattle, Vancouver, Olympia, California and Montana. She later served as an English professor at the College of Great Falls in Montana. She also taught English twice in Japan. She lives in Great Falls.

Lee, who was born in Ireland and is celebrating 60 years of service, came to the United States in the 1940s and entered the religious community at age 29. She taught at Holy Rosary School in Moxee and St. Joseph School in Yakima, as well as in Walla Walla, Vancouver and Alaska. After performing parish work, she returned to St. Joseph to coordinate religious education and to teach. She also was a hospital chaplain in Portland. She retired to St. Joseph Residence in Seattle in 2000.

Chappell, celebrating 50 years, taught at St. Joseph's in Yakima, and in Tacoma and Seattle. She has served on the boards of Providence Health System and Providence Senior and Community Services, and as chairwoman of three Department of Housing and Urban Development boards. She currently is secretary to the superior of St. Joseph Residence in West Seattle.

Eley, also celebrating 50 years in the religious community, spent 31 years teaching every grade from third through eighth. She taught at Holy Rosary School in Moxee, and in California, Vancouver and Seattle, where she was also a co-principal. In between teaching assignments, she worked in the finance departments of the health system's corporate offices and of the religious community. She lives in Seattle.

-- Yakima Herald-Republic