Sister Louis Marie Abenanti of the Sisters of Mercy died on February 23, 2015 at St. Mary Home in West Hartford after a long illness. One of 5 children, Sister was born March 10, 1926 to the late Luigi and Filomena (Fiorella) Benanto. Known to friends as Sister Luigi, she never lost her love for her hometown, Derby, where she attended high school and later worked for 9 years before entering the convent September 8, 1951. Sister worked in inner-city parishes in Bridgeport, New York and New Haven where she began a Community Service program with a grant from the city before her dream of becoming a "foreign" missionary became a reality. Missioned in Honduras, Puerto Rico and Peru, she taught religion and English, visited the sick and homebound and opened a soup kitchen. It was here Sister Luigi was able to exercise her great love for God's poor and realize the words engraved on her ring at the time of her religious profession, "to make God loved." After retiring from active ministry Sister continued volunteer work at Mercyknoll and the School for Young Children in West Hartford. She learned to quilt and spent much time making crib blankets which she would send to friends in Peru. Sister Luigi is predeceased by 3 sisters, Mary, Gloria and Eleanor. She is survived by her brother Joseph Benanto and his wife Ellie of Amsterdam, NY, her community of Mercy and many faithful friends. Calling hours will be Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 1:30 – 2:30p.m. at St. Mary Home Chapel followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 3:00 p.m. Burial will take place at 4:00 p.m. in St. Mary Cemetery. Those wishing to make a donation in Sister's memory are asked to consider the Sisters of Mercy, 55 East Cedar St., Newington, CT 06111. Dillon-Baxter Funeral Home has care of arrangements. To share a memory with the family please visit www.dillonbaxter.com.