In Memoriam

Sister María Paz Aribon, OP Jan. 24, 1942- Dec. 10, 2014

Sister María Paz Aribon, OP, 72, a member of the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic passed away peacefully in the Central House of the Dominican Sisters in Flour Bluff on Dec. 10. She was the principal at St. Anthony's Catholic School in Robstown.

Sister Paz was born on Jan. 24, 1942 in Nandacan, Bautista, Pangasinan, Philippines to Edy Aribon and Helen Sison de Guzman Aribon, who preceded her in death.

She entered religious life at 16 as a postulant at Sta. Catalina in Manila, Philippines on June 16, 1958, made her first profession of vows on Jan. 4, 1961 in Sta. Rita, Pampanga and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 5, 1964 in Manila.

Sister Paz graduated from Blessed Imeldas Academy in Dagupan City, received a bachelor's degree in education from the Pontifical University of Sto. Tomas, Manila, a master's degree from Michigan State University and Catholic Leadership from St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

Her years of ministry included teaching in the Dominican schools in Manila, San Juan, Dagupan City, Unisan, Alfonso and Cavite. She was sent to the missions in 1979 in Taiwan, Guam, Okinawa, and in the United States at Corpus Christi, Beeville and Robstown. She maintained and lived her missionary zeal as a schoolteacher, administrator in Catholic schools and as catechist in the parishes she was assigned. She also availed herself in the music and liturgy in the convent, schools and parishes where she worked.

Sister Paz held various positions in the Congregation of the Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic including, Delegate of the Superior General in the U.S. Delegation; Consultant and Secretary of the Delegate; and local Superior and Vice Superior in the U.S. communities. She also served as Vice President and Secretary of the Consecrated Life Council in the Corpus Christi Diocese.

She is survived by four sisters and four brothers, Carmen (Dizon) of Glendale, Arizona; Milagros (Florece) of California; Amanda (Azarcon) of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Maria Lourdes (Casillano) of California; Caesar; Elpidio Jr.; Felipe; Emmanuel; and many nieces and nephews and their children in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

The Liturgy of the Christian burial, celebrated by Bishop Michael Mulvey, was held on Saturday, Dec. 13, at St. Anthony's in Robstown. Interment was at Seaside Memorial Park, Corpus Christi.