Sr. Mary Renetta (Rita) Rumpz, CSSF, the former Rita Rumpz of Detroit, MI, age 83 and 64 years in religious life, was born on September 27, 1941, a momentous time in history: it was World War II. She entered eternal life on October 17, 2024.
True to the family tradition with a name that starts with the letter “R,” Sister Renetta was the third of eight siblings of Sylvester and Leocadia (Prusak) Rumpz: Raphael+, Richard+, Rita+ (SM Renetta), Roberta, Reginald, Roderick+, Randy+ and Renee.
Baptized and confirmed at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Detroit, Rita attended the parish grade school and completed high school at St. Andrew in Detroit. Following graduation, she was employed as a cashier at the A&P Super Market. The gentle Lord, however, kept tugging at her heart, and she entered the Congregation of the Felician Sisters in Livonia, MI and received the name, Sister Mary Renetta. First Vows were pronounced in 1962 and Final Profession in 1968.
Sister Renetta earned a bachelor’s degree from Madonna University in 1967 and a master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration from Xavier University, 1982, followed by a year of internship at Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital. While at Xavier, Sister was a team member that won first prize in a national competition of financial management and regulation conducted by the American College of Hospital Executives.
Assigned to elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1963, Sister progressively advanced through grade levels during the first five years: 1st Grade at St. Valentine, Redford; 7th and 8th grades at Our Lady of Refuge, Orchard Lake; and grades 9 through 12 at St. Casimir High School, Detroit, teaching business classes and religion.
1968 was a turning point in Sister Renetta’s life with an appointment to St. Mary Hospital. From day one she exhibited a no-nonsense business approach along with a keen sense of humor, and always turned to St. Joseph for support and advice when building a new facility or planning additions to buildings. Sister initially served as Business Office and Data Processing Supervisor and was then promoted to the Director of Fiscal services until 1980 when she attended Xavier University.
Recognizing her sharp intellect and vision (she could spot numerical errors in an instant that others have toiled over for hours) Sister Renetta was appointed Executive vice-president and Chief Operating Officer of St. Mary Hospital, a position she held for 16 years. During this time, with the President, Sister Mary Modesta, Sister coordinated the Hospital and renovation projects that included the St. Mary Hospital Pavilion, Marian Professional Building, Marywood Nursing Center and West Addition which housed The Miracle of Life Maternity Center, Marian Women’s Center, Surgical and Central Processing, as well as the St. Mary Child Care Center. On January 1, 1998, Sister Renetta was appointed President and CEO of St. Mary Hospital and earned the title of Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), an international professional society of healthcare executives.
The tides of health care were rapidly changing and a stand-alone community hospital would be difficult to succeed. In 1992, an affiliate relationship with William Beaumont Hospital resulted in new programs and services. In 1998, when the Holy Cross Health System in South Bend, Indiana, merged with Mercy Health Services in Farmington Hills, Michigan and formed Trinity Health, St. Mary Hospital transitioned to the new organization. June 1, 2000 officially marked the beginning of St. Mary Mercy Hospital (later changed to Trinity Heath Hospital-Livonia) under a new President, Mr. David Spivey.
As the door to ministry in health care closed, another window opened. Sister Mary Renetta was elected Provincial Minister of the Livonia Province. The tides of religious congregations were also turbulent, and in 2009 the Felician Sisters of North America and Canada witnessed the dissolution of eight provinces into one. Sister Renetta was assigned to other ministries and served a brief interim as Treasurer General in Rome.
In 2006, Sister Renetta received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Madonna University. Along with administrative responsibilities, Sister held membership on hospital, community boards, and civic organizations as Senior Clergy Village, Southeast Michigan Health and Hospital Council, Michigan Health and Hospital Association on Catholic Health Care, and Livonia Chamber of Commerce.
Through her visionary leadership in the Felician Congregation and in health care, and with a strong character, often sprinkled with good humor, Sister Mary Renetta was effective in the lives of many people. Whether spearheading a construction project, developing a new service, overseeing a community program, or being actively involved in the reconfiguration of the North American Felician Provinces, Sister met each challenge with deep faith, Franciscan Joy, and boundless energy.
In 2013, Sister Renetta transitioned to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent in Livonia. Although she suffered from various health conditions over the next ten years, her sense of humor and ability to joke with others always peeked through. In the early hours of October 17, 2024, it appeared that death was not far off. As Sisters prayed at her bedside, Sister Mary Renetta slipped peacefully into God’s eternal embrace and returned to the Lord she so faithfully served for 83 years, 64 in religious life. Burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, Michigan.
Sister Mary Renetta is survived by her sisters, Roberta Wiley and Renee Lee (Garry) and brother, Reginald, along with nieces and nephews.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
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