Sister Maria Elena Arias

Sister Maria Elena (birth name: Rita Maria) was born on June 6, 1926, daughter of Jose Habacu Arias and Maria Arias Rodrigez in the small town of Siachoque, Colombia, diocese of Tunja. She was an only child but had five half brothers and five half sisters. These siblings were her father’s children. She entered the Congregation on July 17, 1948 and became a novice on August 12, 1949. Sister Maria Elena pronounced her first vows on August 13, 1950 and final vows on August 13, 1956.

When she was in high school, Fr. Diethard, SDS taught religion classes. When he talked about Mother Mary and Salvatorian history, she along with two other students approached him about becoming Sisters. He contacted Mother Olympia Heuel. Soon after, Sisters from the United States came to talk with them and arrangements were made for these young women to come to the United States, because at that time there were no Sisters in Bogota. Rita Maria arrived in Milwaukee with 10 other young women in 1948 to enter the formation program. They were the first ones to enter our congregation from Columbia, South America.

Prior to entrance, she had completed three years of high school including some classes at a Domestic School. In Milwaukee, Sister Maria Elena attended Divine Savior Junior College, Mount Mary College and later attended Marquette University, graduating with a BA in Spanish literature and education. She returned to Marquette University and earned a master’s degree in bilingual reading and resources. After first profession, she served as a seamstress at the Motherhouse, then as a housekeeper, seamstress and childcare worker at the orphanage in Sisseton, SD. She also was a housekeeper at Holy Name, Wausau, WI. She began her teaching career at the SDS parish schools at Holy Trinity School, School Hill WI, All Saints, Lakeville, MN and St. Paul School, Bloomer, WI.

While attending classes at Marquette University, one of her professors asked her to consider the Milwaukee Public School System because of the great need for bilingual teachers. After speaking with the Provincial Superior, she applied and was quickly hired and became one of the Charter Faculty Members of Vieau School which was the first bilingual elementary school in Milwaukee when it opened in 1969. After she received her master’s degree, she became the coordinator of the bilingual program at View School. She had a great impact on systems and policies and on thousands of students. She set the academic standards high and together they reached their goals.

One thing did not change in all her years of teaching – her dedication and commitment to children and education. In an article, “A Lifelong Commitment to Children,” she stated: “I have always been drawn to helping children in need. Children need affirmation and then they can be taught. Some of the children and their parents did not speak English. The fact that we could communicate in Spanish made learning possible.”  She also said, “I feel blessed that I was called to religious life and have been able to serve families in Catholic and public school systems.” She believed helping people learn to read is a sure way to proclaim liberty to those who are held captive by the effects of poor or non-existent reading skills. She was described by one of her former principals as a candid, kind, courageous and superior teacher.

After 40 years of teaching, she retired as a teacher but continued to volunteer for many years. While volunteering at Vieau School, she coordinated a gift program for the Sisters at the Salvatorian Sisters Residence to send presents to a classroom of first or second grade students. The students wrote their special Sister a thank you note. In Spring, the students visited the Sisters and shared a lunch. After she “retired,” Sister Maria Elena kept in contact with some of the students who needed extra help, and also the students’ families, helping them with the many issues and concerns they faced. She stated, “I always felt that these families have done more for me than I did for them.” Her retirement years were spent in the community at Salvatorian Sisters Residence until her health required that she be transferred to St. Anne’s to receive the additional care she needed. Throughout her stay there, she would often return to the Salvatorian Sisters Residence to visit, read the newspaper, or join the Sisters for a meal.

Sister Maria Elena was called home to God on March 24, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose Habacu Arias and Maria Arias Rodrigez, her step-sisters, Clementina (Carlos) de Soto, Empera (Carlos) de Diaz, Efigenia (Jorge) de Soto, Adelina (Luis) de Moreno, and Aura Lucia (Alfredo) de Triana; and her step-brothers, Nicanor (Flor) Agudelo, Segundo Agudelo, Benigno (Berta) Agudelo, Jose Agudelo, and Salvador Agudelo. She was survived by cousins, nieces, and her Salvatorian family.