Sister Mary Pia Benavidez, OSF: 1953-2024

Panhandle—Franciscan Sisters of Christ the Light Sister Mary Pia Benavidez, of the Holy Wounds of Jesus, passed away Dec. 3. She was 71 years old.
 
The Rosary will be prayed for Sister Mary Pia Sunday, Dec. 8 at 5:00pm in Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Sancta Maria Convent. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am, Monday, Dec. 9, Our Lady of the Angels Chapel at Sancta Maria Convent, Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, presiding, with Father Hrudaya Raju Kondamudi, parochial administrator, St. Theresa’s Church, concelebrating. Burial was in Panhandle Cemetery.
 
Yvonne Josephine Benavidez was born on Aug. 22, 1953 in Rock Springs, Wyo., the daughter of Benjamin and Josephine Benavidez. She entered the Congregation of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Panhandle on Sept. 7, 1973, and received the name of Sister Mary Pia, after St. Padre Pio, when she became a novice. Sister Mary Pia made her first vows in 1976, final vows in 1981 and celebrated her 25th Jubilee on July 2, 2001.
 
Sister Mary Pia graduated from Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque. According to her community, she had a rich and diverse background in her education and experience, which included Certification from the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute in Cashier Sales.
 
The community added that this set the course for her amazing people skills and hands-on dependable work ethic.  Sister Mary Pia also attended Frank Phillips College in Borger for English courses, Amarillo College for Child Care Education, Catholic Distance University for the Theology of the Sacraments and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. She earned a Basic Skills Certification in Religious Education and Faith Formation through the Diocese of Amarillo as well as a Catechetical Certificate in Formation at the intermediate level.
 
Sister Mary Pia had practical experience as a nurse’s aide in working with mentally and physically handicapped children. Her community said she loved being a part of the community’s mission of the Christian education of youth as a teacher’s aide at St. John the Evangelist School in Borger, St. Anthony of Padua School in Dalhart and Saint Joseph’s School in Amarillo. Sister Mary Pia was also a part of the Sisters’ apostolate at St. Ann’s Nursing Home and the Catholic Children’s Home, both in Panhandle. She used her amazing storytelling talent and the love of her Faith in countless Faith Formation programs, Vacation Bible Schools and community gatherings.  
 
A cervical spine injury in 2013 left Sister Mary Pia with partial paralysis and limited physical abilities. Professionals who said she would never walk again were surprised when she adapted, through excellent care at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Dallas and sheer grit, to a wheelchair and then to a walker. Upon returning home to Panhandle, Sister Mary Pia continued her religious life Faithfully and cheerfully.  
 
Sister Mary Pia was a proud member of the ACTS community in Amarillo and a member of the Legion of Mary.
 
Sister Mary Pia was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Benny Benavidez and Robert Ulibarri.
 
Survivors include a sister, Liz Ulibarri; a nephew, Joseph Ulibarri; and a cousin, Esther Benavidez.