Funeral Mass held at the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose April 13 for Sister Ramona Bascom, who died April 6. She was 80.
Sister Ramona was one of six children born to Glen and Frances Basom. A native of Southern California, she grew up on Catalina Island, where she attended the island’s elementary school. She graduated from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, La Ca√±ada. After joining the Dominican Sisters in 1954, she received her B.A. in English from Queen of the Holy Rosary College, an M.A. in English from Holy Names University and a counseling degree and certified counseling credential from Loyola Marymont University.
Sister Ramona ministered in education for 48 years as teacher, principal and counselor in Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Southern California, serving primarily at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Sacred Heart High School, Los Angeles. Her last teaching assignment was to Bright Star Elementary Charter School in Los Angeles. She later become the founding principal of that high school.
In the last eight years she was involved with the Catholic Community at Stanford University, a member of the board of directors for Moreau Catholic High School, a coordinator for the Interfaith Sisters of Peace and a supporter of the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionaries for China.
She served as the “public person” on a medical review board for Stanford University Hospital and was on the board for the Dominican Sisters’ Center for Education and Spirituality. A person who cared genuinely for others, she always had time and insights to share. She seemed to know what a person needed: compassion, encouragement, wisdom and, yes, “tough love.”
She is survived by her sisters Stephanie Grigsby, Catherine Richardson, Mary Ann Levesque and her brother Tim Bascom. Donations may be sent to Dominican Sisters and earmarked for the Congregation or Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Immaculate Conception Academy or Sacred Heart High School.
