Sr. Mary Raymunda Crownhart died peacefully May 31 at McAuley Center, Farmington Hills. She was 99 and had been a Sister of Mercy for 73 years.

Ruth Crownhart was born to Raymond and Elizabeth (Farrell) Crownhart on Sept. 5, 1913, in Elmwood, Wis. After completing high school, she earned a diploma in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and biology at St. Catherine College, St. Paul, Minn. Thus prepared, she became an instructor of nursing with the Sisters of Mercy, St. Margaret Hospital, Hammond, Ind. When she felt she had a vocation to become a Sister of Mercy, she joined the community in Dubuque, Iowa, where her aunt, Sr. Mary Petronilla Farrell, was already a member.

On Sept. 8, 1939, she entered the novitiate and received the name Sr. Mary Raymunda. After completing her preparation for religious life, she made perpetual vows on Aug. 16, 1945.

Sr. Crownhart’s many years in health care education and administration were spent in Mercy hospitals sponsored by the Province of Detroit, including Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit, as a supervisor and assistant director of nursing; then as director of the school of nursing and nursing services for Leila Hospital, Battle Creek; St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Mason City, Iowa, and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Sioux City, Iowa.

In 1955, she was appointed to serve on the Provincial Council for Detroit for six years. After that, she served four years as assistant administrator for Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit and then six years as administrator of Mercy Hospital in Muskegon. In 1967, she was appointed provincial administrator, a position she held for the next four years. In 1971, she returned to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Mason City, where she was named environmental coordinator.

In 1981, she became part of the pastoral care team. Later, she moved to a position she had hoped for most of her career, an opportunity to serve and work with the elderly.

In 1996, Sr. Crownhart retired to McAuley Center in Farmington Hills.

Sr. Crownhart is survived by her sister, Bette Meehan, several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, many colleagues and friends and her Mercy community.

Funeral services were June 4 at McAuley Center. Burial followed at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 29000 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI, 48336.