Sister Leticia Regala

Sister Leticia Regala, affectionately known as Sister Letty or Lola to her grandchildren, passed May 9, 2025, leaving behind a legacy filled with love, faith, and service. A devoted widow and mother of six, she embraced her roles with unmatched grace and determination. Her family, spread across the coasts, the Midwest, and Hawaii, always remained close to her heart, even as they pursued their diverse careers and families. 

In her later years, Sister Letty sought a new purpose. With a robust faith guiding her, she recognized that her journey was far from over. In a moment of quiet reflection, she uttered, “Thy will be done,” an expression of her commitment to a path of deeper spiritual fulfillment. Her exploration led her to a religious community, where she began to consider a second vocation that filled her heart with purpose.

Sister Letty often shared how her previous experiences as a wife and mother prepared her for the life of community and service in her religious vocation. “Married life actually prepared me for religious life and community,” she explained. The virtues of generosity, flexibility, and openness to change became cornerstones of her life as she thrived within her new family of sisters, finding joy and camaraderie among them. 

Known for her warmth and kindness, Sister Letty maintained strong family ties, balancing her new life while ensuring her loved ones saw the happiness and fulfillment it brought her. The Salvatorians, her religious order, became an integral part of her family, a testament to her belief that faith binds us together in unique and powerful ways.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Leticia met the love of her life, Dr. Emilio Regala Jr., and together they built a beautiful family in Hartford, Wisconsin, where they were active members of St. Kilian Parish. Her early involvement in the Cursillo Movement and Legion of Mary reflected her deep commitment to her faith, earning a master’s degree in nursing and serving as a lay volunteer during times of crisis, including Hurricane Andrew’s aftermath.

Her journey took her to places far and wide, enriching her soul and expanding her perspective. During her time as a chaplain and a pastoral team member in Phoenix, and as part of her immersion experience with Salvatorian Sisters in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sister Letty engaged deeply with communities facing the challenges of poverty and wealth disparity, echoing the realities she had witnessed in her own upbringing.

Sister Letty saw her call to religious life as an act of Divine Providence. A chance encounter in Milwaukee, where she found a Salvatorian card at Mass, set her on a path she embraced with open arms. From that moment, she felt a sense of belonging, joining with other sisters who celebrated life to the fullest, fueled by a shared mission to make Jesus the Savior better known and loved.

With her passing, we celebrate Sister Letty’s extraordinary life—a life marked by unwavering faith, boundless love, and a commitment to serve others. Her spirit continues to inspire all who knew her, reminding us of the beauty of community, the strength of family, and the power of a life dedicated to purpose. May her legacy of kindness and devotion live on in the hearts of those she touched.