Sister Clarella Lois Mae Fink, age 92, a Sister of Providence for 74 years, died Aug. 10, 2020, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle.
Clarella Fink (Lois Mae Fink) was born in the Minneapolis, Minn. on Sept. 28, 1927, to Andrew Roy Fink and Clara Theresa (Klimek) Fink. She was the oldest of ten children: six boys and four girls.
In 1945, Sister Clarella became a postulant of the Sisters of Providence, a novice in 1946, made first profession in 1947 and her final vows in 1950.
In 1945 she graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula, Mont. In 1958 Sister Clarella received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the College of Great Falls, Great Falls, Mont. In 1968 she received a master’s in Education at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash., and in 1985 a diploma in accounting from Kinman Business University, Spokane. She was certified to teach in Idaho, Washington and Montana.
Sister Clarella ministered as an educator teaching first through fourth grades at St. Thomas Home, Great Falls, Mont. (1948-49, 1959-64); Providence of Mary Immaculate School, DeSmet, Idaho (1949-50, 1969-73); Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Wallace, Idaho (1950-52); St. Gerard School, Great Falls (1952-59, 1965-67); St. Patrick Grade School, Walla Walla, Wash. (1964-65, 1967-69); St. Anthony School, Missoula, Mont. (1973-74); and St. Francis Xavier School (now St. Joseph School) (1974-84). She also lived and worked with people in dire poverty on the Indian reservation in DeSmet.
In 1989, Sister Clarella was called to be a missionary, where she ministered until early 2002 in the Philippines. She was one of the first five Sisters of Providence to minister in the Philippines. She was their first superior and ministered for more than nine years as the treasurer. In 2002 when she returned to Spokane, Sister Clarella volunteered on several community boards. In 2012, she moved to St. Joseph Residence in Seattle where she prayed with and comforted those who were dying. She also enjoyed reading to others.
Sister Clarella is preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Iona Joan McDougall, Majorie Ann Fink, and Marlene Ann Cella; her brothers, Millard Allan Fink, Duane James Fink and Gerald Leslie Fink. She is survived by her brothers, Hylton Raymond Fink, Woodinville, Wash., Denis Clair Fink, Santa Clara, Calif., and Donald Eugene Fink, Greybulls, Wyo.; and the sisters in her religious community.
To view Sr. Clarella’s obituary and picture, and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.