Rita “Elizabeth Miriam” Heywood

Sister Rita Heywood, SNDdeN was born in Boston, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Carty) Heywood. She entered the SNDdeNs in 1958, took her first vows in 1961 and final vows in 1966. Her religious name was Sister Elizabeth Miriam.

She taught at St. Mary in Cambridge, Our Lady of the Angels in Worcester, Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, St. Augustine in Andover, Cardinal Cushing Central High in South Boston, St. Joseph in Somerville, St. Mary in Lawrence, Star of the Sea, Honolulu, St. Augustine in Andover and the Lenox Hill Rehabilitation Center, Lynn.

Sister Rita was assistant director and instructor at the South Shore Collaborative Program, and worked with students with disabilities as part-time faculty at Boston College Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education.

Updated in 2026.