WORLD : Princess Turned Nun Dies in Pa.
- Share via
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. — Mother Alexandra, a Romanian princess who fled her homeland 43 years ago and later founded a monastery near Ellwood City, has died at age 82.
Mother Alexandra, born Princess Ileana of Romania, the daughter of King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie of Romania, died Monday in St. Elizabeth Medical Center at Youngstown, Ohio. She also was the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England and Czar Alexander II of Russia.
Mother Alexandra had been hospitalized since Jan. 4, when she broke her hip. She had a heart attack four days later.
She died with little of the material wealth she had as a young princess but had kept a small gilded box containing Romanian soil she saved since leaving her homeland in 1948. The box will be buried with her at her request.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
