Sister of the Holy Child Jesus Loretta Tiernan, 80, died Feb. 5.

Born and raised in Waukegan, she attended Holy Child High School, where she first met the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus. She entered the society in 1956 and became well-known by the religious name Mother Mary Clarice. She made her final vows in 1964.

Sister Loretta returned to the Archdiocese of Chicago to teach at St. Veronica (1959-1963); St. Ignatius (1963-1965); and St. Anastasia, Waukegan (1965-1967).

In 1979, Sister Loretta returned to Waukegan, where she became a minster at Victory Hospital, then served as a pastoral associate and minister of care at St. Joseph and St. Bartholomew Parish. The scope of her ministry grew as the parishes consolidated.

Sister Loretta is survived by her sister, Mary Ann Grazier.