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Maleada Mary Strange, SNJM

Dorothy Strange was born in San Francisco, California, the oldest child and only daughter of Arthur and Maleada Ramberg Strange. She received her elementary education at St. Cecilia School in San Francisco, where she was taught by the Holy Names Sisters. She later attended St. Brigid High School, where her teachers were the BVM Sisters.

From childhood Dorothy always loved the idea of teaching and was known for organizing her own “school” after regular school hours for the children of her neighborhood. Following her graduation in 1949, she chose to join the Sisters of the Holy Names, entering their novitiate then located in Oakland. She became a novice in February 1950, received the holy habit and was given the religious name Sister Maleada Mary. In August 1951, she professed temporary vows and made final vows in August 1956.

Sister Maleada Mary’s first experience as a teacher was a novice. She continued as a teacher through the next 25 years at schools including Our Lady of Lourdes, Oakland; St. Augustine, Oakland; Holy Spirit, Fremont; and St. Francis de Sales, Oakland. She taught at the primary level for many years before working with the upper grades. Later she moved into school administration as principal at three California grade schools: Good Shepherd in Santa Cruz, St. Monica in San Francisco, and St. Ignatius in Sacramento.

Over time she completed a Bachelor of Arts in English at Holy Names College, Oakland, and a Master in Educational Administration at San Francisco State University.

In 1975, the President of Holy Names College, Oakland, asked Sister Maleada Mary to join the staff. She worked with the Education Department, wrote an administration credential program, and served as assistant to the president.

In 1978 she turned her energies and skills in a new direction. For 22 years she worked in pastoral ministry in several parishes in mid-California. Among them were St. Christopher in San Jose, St. Charles in Livermore, St. Timothy in San Mateo, and St. Joan of Arc in San Ramon. Her primary ministry was with returning Catholics. In 1994 she spent a year working with the Diocese of Oakland’s Office of Strategic Planning.

For several years Sister Maleada Mary worked for the Contra County Crises Center with police and fire departments. She would be called to the emergency situation, listen to the problem, and help the people in crises.

The Fall of 2000, Sister Maleada Mary retired. Since then she has served in a variety of volunteer ministries. In 2003 she traveled to Vietnam spending the summer teaching ELS classes. She also served as volunteer chaplain at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. California for twelve years.

Teaching has been a central aspect of Sister Maleada Mary’s ministry as a Sister of the Holy Names, living out that dream of her childhood to be a teacher. In everything she has done, even those assignments that were not formal classroom education there has always been a component of teaching, bringing those around her the gift of knowledge.

Sister Maleada Mary lives at Merrill Gardens, Campbell, California, where she enjoys the opportunities of retirement and the community of the residents. We rejoice in the celebration of Sister’s 75 years of service and companionship as a Holy Names Sister.