Loretta Juras, S.F.O.

Loretta Matilda Juras, S.F.O., 93, of Wilmington, Delaware passed away on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Manor Care in Wilmington.

Born on the family farm “Straight Shore Farm” in East New Market, Maryland on November 30, 1927, Loretta was one of eight children born to the late John and Apolonia (Lena) Tobat Juras.

Loretta along with her siblings started out at a young age working in the fields and caring for the chickens.  Hard work was nothing new to the Juras kids.

After attending the local schools she went on and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Delaware majoring in Russian History.  She then began a career in psychiatric social work until an illness forced her to abandon that dream.  In 1948, Loretta and her younger sister decided to enter the convent to become nuns. Again, her illness forced her out.  She found the right environment in the busy hospital world and worked in accounting and office management at the St. Francis Hospital in Delaware for thirty-three years before retiring in 1990.

She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church Parish in Wilmington.  Loretta continued to study, volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister to hospital patients and served as minister to a local Fraternity of Secular Franciscans.

Loretta suffered for more than 40 years from depression starting at the age of 12.  This led her to write and publish a book “Peace, the Finest Gift”.  She hoped by writing this book she would help others who suffer from this terrible illness.

Surviving Loretta are two sisters, Mary Juras of Secretary and Lillian Juras of Wilmington; two nieces Barbara Rumbley and Rosemary Robbins; four nephews Dominic Tacchetti, Jr., Victor Tacchetti, Timothy Tacchetti and William Rumbley, Jr. and a host of cousins.

Preceded in her death besides her parents was a brother Bro. Leonard Juras, OSF, sisters Regina Rumbley, Theresa Juras, Florence Tacchetti, Sister Irene Juras, OSF.

Loretta’s wishes was to have her body donated to science.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on May 13, 2022 beginning 8 a.m.  with Rev. Stephen Lonek officiating at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Secretary.   Inurnment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.