Posted June 10, 2025

Sister Loretta Regina Achuff died in Camilla Hall on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Sister was in the 71^st year of her religious life.

Sister Loretta Regina was born on March 4, 1936. Sister’s parents Albert and Loretta Bernadette (Higgins) Achuff raised their two children, Loretta and her brother Albert, in St. Martin of Tours Parish in Philadelphia.

Loretta attended St. Martin of Tours Elementary School (1942 – 1950) and Little Flower High School (1950 – 1954). Later, while in Community, Sister Loretta earned her degree in B.Music at Immaculata College and her M.Ed from Trenton State College.

Following her graduation from Little Flower, Loretta entered the Community on September 8, 1954; she received her habit and her religious name, Sister Loretta Regina, on March 8, 1955 and professed her First Vows on March 10, 1957.

Shortly after First Profession, Sister Loretta Regina went to Our Lady of Fatima School in Cornwells Heights where she taught through the school year ended in June 1959. Next, Sister travelled to Holy Family School in Harrisburg, for just one year, where she taught first and second grade children and Music. In 1960 through 1968, Sister taught elementary grade children, and Music. At this time, it was not unusual for a Sister to be a full-time “Music Sister” as well as a classroom teacher. Sister did a remarkable job with both demanding tasks.

Sister Loretta’s next assignment took her to St. Mary’s in Phoenixville in 1968 where, for one more year, Sister served as the “Music Sister” and taught fifth grade children.

From the fall of 1969 through the school year ending in 1997 Sister taught children in grades 4, 7, and 8, without the “Music Sister” component. Sister ministered at St. Patrick in York, St. Aloysius Academy in Bryn Mawr, St. Charles in Drexel Hill, St. Laurence in Upper Darby, St. Mark in Bristol and Holy Innocents in Philadelphia. At Holy Innocent, Sister Loretta taught seventh grade students half day and served as a tutor during the second half of the day.

In 1997, Sister Loretta was appointed as superior of Queen of Heaven Convent in Cherry Hill. While at Queen of Heaven School, Sister worked diligently with the Honors Math Students and assisted in the library. In the fall of 2000 through June 2006, Sister was assigned to serve at St. John Bosco in Hatboro as the local superior of the convent and as a general assistant in school.

Sister engaged in a different yet related apostolate in 2006 through 2012. After a stellar ministry as a teacher, Sister served as an assistant in the rectory at St. Francis de Sales Parish. In the fall of 2012 through June 2017, Sister then lent her expertise as a general assistant in St. Francis de Sales School.

After sixty years of faithful service in the apostolate of school-related activities, Sister Loretta Regina turned her skills, assistance, and prayerfulness to the ministry of serving her IHM Sisters in Camilla Hall as a member of the Apostolate of Prayer and Assistance. Sister entered this ministry in the fall of 2017 and served faithfully until her death on May 20, 2025. Enjoy heaven’s peace dear Sister.

Sister Loretta Regina is survived by her loving IHM Community; Sister is predeceased by her parents Albert Achuff, Loretta Bernadette (Higgins) Achuff, and her brother, Albert.

Reverend John Burger, S.S.C. celebrated Sister Loretta Regina’s Funeral Mass on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to:

Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355