Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Sister Beatrice Broussard, age 86, died on July 9, 2011, at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana. Sister Beatrice was born on January 21, 1925, in Loreauville, Louisiana. She was one of two daughters born to Beatrice (Bonn) and Emile Broussard. Sister attended Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1953-1954. She was 59 years vocation.
Sister Beatrice was first introduced to the Daughters of Charity through her family; a cousin adopting a child. The person who opened the door at the orphanage was a Daughter of Charity. She was so kind and helpful that the experience made Sister Beatrice want to learn more about the Daughters. After much discernment, Sister Beatrice realized the Daughters of Charity is where she belonged.
Sister joined the Daughters on January 25, 1952. Her first assignment as business manager was at Saint Vincent Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, and then DeDaul Hospital in St. Louis. In 1962, she was chosen to carry out her mission in Tainan, Taiwan, in Pastoral Ministry and as Parish Visitor. She continued there until 1969, when she returned to St. Louis to pursue her education. In 1972 she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Education from Marillac College. She then became a Social Studies teacher at Labouré High School in St. Louis until 1979. She was then missioned to Donaldsonville, Louisiana as a secondary teacher at Ascension Catholic High School. In 1980 she was missioned to Austin, Texas where she was Director of Education Programs for Unwed Mothers at Marywood, Home of the Holy Infancy.
She was then missioned in 1981 to New Orleans, LA, to be the Director of Admitting at the Hotel Dieu Hospital. In 1984 Sister was missioned as Parish Administrator for Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Perryville, Missouri. From 1985-2010, Sister Beatrice served in several different ministries, all in Austin, Texas, including Mission Coordinator at Holy Cross Hospital, Vice President of Mission Effectiveness at DC Health Services, and Patient Representative at Seton Medical Center. She also was Director of DCHSA Seton League House and Patient Liaison at Children's Hospital and Seton Northwest. In August 2010, Sister Beatrice was missioned to Evansville, Indiana, in the Ministry of Prayer where she continued until the time of her death.
Sister Agnes Caffarel, age 86, died on May 28, 2011 at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana. Sister Agnes was born on December 22, 1924 in Dallas, Texas. She was one of six children to Irene and Ernest B. Caffarel.
Sister Agnes attended Our Lady of Good Counsel High school in Dallas, and in 1943 she received a teaching certificate from Our Lady of Victory College in Fort Worth, Texas. She worked three months at North American Aviation in Arlington, Texas, before studying for a nursing degree from St. Paul School of Nursing. In 1945, she entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Missouri. Following her time of formation, Sister Agnes was assigned to St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, for her degree in nursing. Sister continued her nursing education at DePaul University in Chicago, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education in 1949. Sister Agnes ministered in nursing in hospitals in Austin, Texas, Alton, Illinois, Nashville, Tennessee, and Waco, Texas. From 1972 to 1979, Sister was missioned to Hotel Dieu Hospital, New Orleans, to work in the hospital library. It was during this time she received a Masters in Library Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Then, Sister Agnes was missioned to Marillac Provincial House, St. Louis. She was then missioned to Dallas, Texas, to work in the Medical Records department. Sister went back to working in the library at DePaul Health Center, Bridgeton, Missouri, and then was missioned back to Hotel Dieu Hospital, New Orleans, where she worked in the library until November 1993. From 1993 to 2003, she worked in the Provincial Archives in St. Louis, and at Guardian Angels Settlement Association. In 2003, she was missioned to Veronica House Residence and began in the Ministry of Prayer. She was then missioned in 2006 to Anna House Residence and then to Seton Residence in 2009, where she continued in the Ministry of Prayer until the time of her death.
On May 11, 2011 Sr. Marie Agnew died at Catherine's Residence. Marie was the second of four children of the family of Erline and Dan Angew.
Graduating from St. Vincent’s High School in Perryville, Marie entered the Daughters of Charity in 1946. She began her glorious journey of service in Natchez, Mississippi where she taught elementary school. She moved on to Our Lady of Talpa in Los Angeles, next St. Patrick’s in San Francisco. There she continued to instruct and form young children. In 1957, it was back to the midwest and there she taught English at Laboure High School. The mountains of Price, UT became her next adventure. She taught English at Notre Dame High School, where she tried to avoid the occasional hungry puma. She returned to Laboure to assume the position of secondary principal, at the same time attending St. Louis University. In 1972, she was Department Head of Humanities and Field Ed at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. In 1975 she completed her doctoral studies in Education at SLU and remained in the St. Louis area through the rest of her career. The years that followed found Marie in these various positions: as Education Consultant at St. Vincent’s High School, as Parent/Family Education Consultant at the Archdiocesan School Office, DC ID Team Project Director, Adult Education Consultant Archdiocesan Human Rights Office, Corporate Ministry Program at SLU, Director of Graduate Program Pastoral Health-SLU, Education Consultant for DCNHS. Her last position was as Director of the Spirit Care Program for DCNHS/Ascension Health. Most recently she lived in Maryland Heights where she continued her ministry of educational service. Through this journey, she made many life-long friends.
Sister Rita May Kelly, D.C, a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, died on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. She was 83 years of age and a Daughter of Charity for 66 years. Sister was born in New Orleans to the late Eloise Carbo Kelly and Warren Thomas Kelly. A graduate of St. Stephen High School, she entered the Daughters of Charity on October 12, 1944 and received a Bachelors in Education from Fontbonne College and Masters in Math from Webster College both of St. Louis, Missouri. Sister Rita May served 53 years in Education Ministry in the following states, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, California, Illinois and five years in Puerto Rico as well as one year teaching English in China. For the last five years, Sister Rita May was a resident at Our Lady of Wisdon Healthcare Center where she served in the Ministry of Prayer.
Sister Dorothy Bachelot, age 83, died February 28, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. Sr. Dorothy was born on May 6, 1927 in Crowley, Louisiana. She was one of three children born to Eula Istre and Webster Bachelot. Sister Dorothy was 65 years vocation.
Sr. Dorothy attended St. Joseph High School in New Orleans, Louisiana and after graduating in 1945, entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, MIssouri. After her formation years, she attended St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago, IL and completed her OR post-grad training at DePaul University in Chicago, receiving her BSNE.
From 1952 to 1960, Sr. Dorothy was missioned to Evansville, IN where she worked at St. Mary's Hospital as supervisor of the OR/ER. Then form 1960 to 1968, she ministered as OR/ER supervisor in various California Hospitals including O'Connor in San Jose, Mary's Help in San Francisco and St. Vincent's Medical Center in Los Angeles. In 1968 she was missioned to St. Paul Medical Center for home health care and completed a semester of training in Rehabilitation Nursing offered by the Public Health Department. In 1972 Sr. Dorothy was missioned to Charity Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana, performing home care, infection control and employee health service. Then, in 1983, Sr. Dorothy was missioned to the National Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana, ministering to residents. Sr. Dorothy was the last Daughter of Charity to leave when the center closed in 2006.
Sr. Dorothy was then missioned to New Orleans. In early 2008, she was diagnosed with ALSL and was missioned to Veronica House in Bridgeton, Missouri in the Ministry of Prayer. She then went to Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana in 2008 where she continued in the Ministry of Prayer until the time of her death.
Sister Mary Angelyn Pera, age 86, died on Thursday, December 9, at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana. Sister Mary Angelyn was born on September 25, 1924, in Sacramento, California. She was one of two daughters of Leo and Stella (Marino) Pera.
Sister entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Missouri on June 8, 1945. After a period of formation, she became a teacher at St. Joseph Grade School in New Orleans, Louisiana and then at Holy Trinity School in Dallas, Texas. Sister received a Bachelor’s Degree in history from Fontbonne College in 1955.
For the next 11 years, Sister Mary Angelyn was Principal at Marian School in Montebello, California; Notre Dame School in Price, Utah; Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; and St. Vincent High in Donaldsonville, Lousiana. In 1966, Sister received a Master’s Degree in education and administration from St. Louis University and in 1968 received a Master’s Degree in guidance and counseling from Inter-Americana University in San German, Puerto Rico. In 1972, Sister was missioned to St. Joseph High School in New Orleans, LA to serve as Guidance Counselor. From 1974 to 1981 she was Principal at St. Catherine Labouré School in St. Louis, MO; St. Agnes in Springfield, MO; and Holy Trinity in Dallas, TX.
In 1981, Sister began working with the elderly at Trinity Center in Dallas, TX. She then was missioned to St. Louis, MO where she served in Pastoral Care at Marillac Provincial House Infirmary for four years. She continued at Marillac Provincial House as coordinator and Associate Administrator until August of 1993. She then went to St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, TX as Pastoral Counselor.
In 2002, Sister Angelyn was missioned to Veronica House in Bridgeton, MO as a Minister of Prayer. Sister went to Seton Residence in Evansville, IN in October of 2010 where she continued with the Ministry of Prayer until the time of her death.
Sister Clare Kelly, D.C., a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, died on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Wednesday, December 8, 2010. She was 82 years of age and 65 years a Daughter of Charity. Sister was born Clare Vivian Kelly in New Orleans to the late Eloise Carbo Kelly and Warren Kelly. She is survived by her sister, Sister Rita May Kelly, Daughter of Charity and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
A graduate of St. Stephen High School, she entered the Daughters of Charity on September 26, 1945. She received a Bachelor degree in business Administration from Fontbonne College, St. Louis, Missouri and Certification in Hospital Executive Development from St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri. Sister was a loving, faithful and generous servant of the sick poor in various ministries in Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Waco, and Austin, Texas. In St. Louis, Sister served in the treasury office at Marillac Provincialate, bookkeeper and Executive Director at Guardian Angels Settlement and in Emmitsburg, Maryland as docent at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. Prior to hurricane Katrina, Sr. Clare ministered to the Daughters at Malta Square. After hurricane Katrina, Sister ministered to the elderly residents at Christopher Homes, particularly at Mater Dolorosa and also ministered to the Daughters of Charity and residents at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center.
Sister Regis Maillian, Daughter of Charity, died on Friday, November 19, 2010 at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. She was 90 years of age and 69 years in community. Sister Regis was born Frances Maillian on October 25, 1920 in Plaquemine, LA. She is survived by her twin sister Merlyn Maillian. She was the beloved daughter of the late Joseph Albert, Sr. and Amanda Dupuy Maillian. Her siblings who preceded her in death were her brothers, Oscar, Joseph Albert, Jr., Roy Gerard and her sister, Amanda Maillian Robeau. She is survived by a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Sister Regis was a 1942 Graduate Nurse from Hotel Dieu Hospital. She entered the Daughters of Charity Community in 1942. She received a BSN at De Paul University in Chicago and then a Master's Degree in Nursing Service Administration in 1965. Sister served in various hospitals in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, and in Louisiana. She was active in Carville, LA, Charity Hospital and Hotel Dieu in New Orleans. She entered the Ministry of Prayer at Our Lady of Wisdom in 2006.
Sr. Camilla Gaudin, age 95, died on November 16, 2010 at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Missouri.
Mary Francis Gaudin was one of three children born to Camille and Amelie Lorio Gaudin in Bayou Goula, Louisiana on July 2, 1915.
Sr. Camilla entered the Daughters of Charity in 1935 and after completing her formation, she was sent to study nursing in Chicago at St. Joseph Hospital. Upon completion of her degree, she was sent to Lafayette, Louisiana to minister at Charity Hospital. Sr. Camilla was then missioned to Charity Hospital in New Orleans where she served for over 50 years as an Orthopedic Department Supervisor and later as a Patient Liaison.
In 1997, Sister was assigned to the Ministry of Prayer in New Orleans. In August, 2008, she was moved to Anna House at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton when the threat of a hurricane caused the evacuation from the New Orleans area.
On Saturday, November 13, 2010, Sr. Camilla celebrated 75 years as a Daughter of Charity.
Sr. Linda Delery, Daughter of Charity, age 72, died on October 29, 2010 at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana. She was born on May 1, 1938, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Sister Linda was one of four children born to Louis Wilfred and Winnifred (Fruchter) Delery. A year after her Vocation Date on June 5, 1958, Sister Linda began her journey toward a lifetime of service in health ministry.
Her first ministry, upon completing her initial education in nursing, was at Saint Margaret Hospital in Montgomery, Alabama. She continued her health ministry from 1962 until June 2010, when she came to Seton Residence to serve in the ministry of prayer. Before that time, Sister Linda also worked at Saint Joseph Hospital and Medical Center in Austin, Saint Paul Medical Center in Dallas, Providence Hospital, Saint Catherine Center and Providence Health Center all in Waco and DePaul Family Center/Clinic in San Antonio. In Missouri, Sister was a nurse at the DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton and the Marillac Provincial House Infirmary in St. Louis. Health care facilities where Sister served in New Orleans included Saint Vincent Home, Hotel Dieu Hospital, the Medical Center of Louisiana-University Campus and Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans which was her last ministry before moving to Evansville.
Sr. Julia Spahn, age 97, died on September 10, 2010 at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton, MO.
Julia Olivia was one of eight children born to Lawrence and Julia (Hartmann) Spahn in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 13, 1913.
Sr. Julia received her early education in New Orleans and graduated from John Kohn High School in 1929.
She entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis in March of 1939.
During her 70 years plus in ministry as a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Julia worked as a Business Manager in Providence Hospital, Waco, Seton Hospital, Austin, St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, and St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph, MO. She served as an Administrative Assistant, and as the Administrator at Marillac Provincial House, St. Louis. Sr. Julia also worked as a cashier at DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton.
Most recently she lived in at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton, MO and was involved in the Ministry of Prayer.
Sr. Mildred Cheramie, age 81, died at DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, September 2, 2010. Mildred Mary was the eldest of five children born to Leopold and Edwina Borne Cheramie on November 8, 1928 in Gretna, LA.
Mildred graduated from Gretna High School in 1945, and from the Hotel Dieu School of Nursing, New Orleans, in 1951. She joined the Daughters of Charity in September, 1953.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Mildred received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marillac College in St. Louis, and her Masters in Theology from Marquette University, Milwaukee. Sr. Mildred also received CPE certification from Baptist Hospital in New Orleans
During her 56 years in ministry as a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Mildred served as a nurse, nursing supervisor, and Director of Pastoral Care in Evansville, Indiana, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and New Orleans. She also lived at the Motherhouse in Paris, and worked as a translator for 6 years. She served as Sister Servant of her local communities in St. Louis, New Orleans, and El Paso, TX. Most recently she lived at the Sarah Community, Bridgeton, MO and was involved in the Ministry of Prayer.
Sister Mary Louis Price, age 93, died on Monday, July 12, at Seton Residence in Evansville, IN. Sister Mary Louis (Alma Marie) was born on June 27, 1917, in Lockport, LA. She was one of seven children of James and Marie Delacroix Price.
Before joining the Daughters of Charity, she graduated from St. Basil Academy in Plaquemine, LA, and completed a Bachelor's Degree in elementary education from the University of Southwest Louisiana in 1939. Sister entered the Daughters at St. Louis, MO in October of 1950. After a period of formation, she became a teacher at St. Vincent's School in Perryville, MO and then at Guardian Angel Settlement in St. Louis. Sister received a Master's Degree in social work from St. Louis University in 1964.
For the next 23 years, Sister Mary Louis held administrative positions in social agencies run by the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis and Kansas City, MO, San Antonio and El Paso, TX and New Orleans, LA. In 1987, Sister returned to St. Louis where she worked for Catholic Community Housing, Guardian Angel Settlement, Marillac Provincial House and Rosati and Caritas Centers.
Sister Mary Louis came to Seton Residence from St. Louis in June of 2006, where she became active in the Ministry of Prayer. Sister was a Gold Card member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers and had been a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Sr. Agnes Savoie, age 90, died on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Missouri. Ledora Antoinette was one of five children born to Addiss and Marguerite Savoie on May 18, 1919 in Houma, Louisiana. She entered the Daughters of Charity in August 1937.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Agnes received her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Fontbonne College and her Masters in Education from St. Louis University. She taught in both primary and elementary schools in St. Louis, New Orleans and Donaldsonville, Louisiana. In her later years she volunteered and tutored at St. Louis and Forest Park Community Colleges. At the time of her death, Sr. Agnes was serving in the Ministry of Prayer at Anna House in Bridgeton, Missouri.
Sister Ignatia O’Rourke died at Seton Residence on Saturday, March 20, 2010. Sr. Ignatia (Catherine) was born on July 11, 1915 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was one of three children born to Robert and Mary O’Shaughnessy O’Rourke. She received a diploma from Saint Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans in 1930 and a PhB (Bachelor of Philosophy) from Loyola University, New Orleans in 1936. Before joining the Daughters of Charity on June 24, 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri, she taught in the Public School system. After a period of formation Sister was sent to St. Patrick’s High School, Chicago, Illinois where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Library Science from Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois. This began a series of educational experiences as a High School teacher at Laboure High School in St. Louis, St. Vincent’s High School in San Francisco, California, Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and Providence School in St. Louis.
Sr. Ignatia began her administrative role as a Secondary Principal at St. Joseph High School in New Orleans and Laboure High School in St. Louis. In 1968 and 1979 she served as an Official translator at the Daughters of Charity General Assemblies in Rome, Italy. This experience also brought her to Madrid, Spain. She served several times as a delegate to the Provincial Assemblies. From 1972 to 1993 she taught at many of the Community’s schools in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. In 1994 Sr. Ignatia was the Provincial archivist and later was the Librarian at Marillac Provincial House in St. Louis. In 1999 she ministered in Pastoral Care at Saint Paul’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and later she tutored children at the Fisk Howard Elementary School while residing at Malta Square in New Orleans. She moved to Seton Residence in 2007 and until her death served as a Minister of Prayer. While at Seton she was happy to lend her talent in Spanish with the Seminary Sisters.
Sr. Rose Ann McNamee, age 94, died on Sunday, December 13, 2009. Veronica Marie (Sr. Rose Ann) was one of three children born to Edward and Rose Ann McNamee in Chicago, Illinois on September 21, 1915. She entered the Daughters of Charity in May, 1934.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Rose Ann received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Business Education from Fontbonne College in St. Louis. She taught in both elementary and secondary schools in Perryville and St. Louis Missouri, Natchez, Mississippi and Austin, Texas. Sr. Rose Ann later worked as Receptionist/Information Clerk and in the Admitting Department at hospitals in St. Louis and Austin. At the time of her death, Sr. Rose Ann was serving in the Ministry of Prayer at Anna House in Bridgeton, Missouri.
Sr. Jane Hamilton, age 81, died at Seton Residence on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Sr. Jane (Jane Teresa) was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 30, 1928. She was one of five children born to Harold and Margaret Kreienbaum Hamilton.
Sr. Jane completed her education in St. Louis and entered the Daughters of Charity on December 2, 1946. She was given the name Sister Laboure. Sister's first assignment was to St. Joseph School in Natchez, Mississippi in 1947. In 1953 she was sent to St. Vincent de Paul School in San Francisco, California. In 1955 she obtained a Bachelor's Degree from Fontbonne College in St. Louis. Sr. Jane continued her teaching ministry at St. Vincent School, Perryville, Missouri and at St. Matthias School in St. Louis.
In 1973 she was missioned to St. Leo Center in San Antonio, Texas and became a Pastoral Minister. in 1975 she received a Master's Degree in Religious Education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas and was assigned to minister in Cotulla, Texas, Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Pawhuska, Oklahoma. In 1984 Sr. Jane was sent to St. Mary's Hospital/Health Center in St. Louis as a CPE student. She then served in Pastoral Care at St. Paul's Medical in Dallas, Texas. In 1994 she was assigned to University Hospice Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 200 Sr. Jane went to Anna House in Bridgeton, Missouri to assist Senior Sisters. In July of 2005 she went to Seton Residence where she continued her Ministry of Prayer.
“My ministry as a pastoral counselor is to help the dying find peace with God, self, family and friends. The bereaved have taught me so much about life, faith, vulnerability and strength of spirit…It has changed my life.”
- Sister Jane Hamilton
Sr. Mary Patrice Murray, age 68, died on Sunday, June 14, 2009. Mary Patricia was the older of two daughters born to Daniel and Lillian Harrington Murray in San Francisco, CA on April 8, 1941. Sr. Mary Patrice entered Postulatum in St. Louis on September 1, 1959.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Mary Patrice received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Marillac College in St. Louis, and later earned Masters in Religious Studies from St. Louis University in 1976, Masters in Education Administration from the University of Missouri, St. Louis in 1980, and Masters in Private School Administration in 1994 from the University of San Francisco. At the time of her death, Sr. Mary Patrice worked in the Provincial Archives at Marillac Provincialate, St. Louis, MO.
Over the years, Sr. Mary Patrice served as:
"What I love about being a Daughter of Charity is belonging to a community I love and admire. I stand in awe sometimes at the incredible women who have gone before us and those who are forging us into the future. What energizes me about my ministry is service and hope to continue the Vincentian story."
- Sister Mary Patrice Murray, February 21, 2009
Sr. Mary Thomas McNeela, age 87, died at Seton Residence in Evansville, IN on April 15, 2009. Sr. Mary Thomas was born on December 7, 1921 in Chicago, IL. She was one of nine children born to Thomas and Ellen McNeela. After her graduation from St. Patrick High School in Chicago, she became a postulant with the Daughters of Charity in June 1939.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Mary Thomas completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, MO followed by earning a Masters Degree in Social Work, majoring in child welfare from St. Louis University.
Sr. Mary Thomas served as an elementary teacher, housemother and teacher at L.A. Orphan Asylum in Los Angeles and later as administrator there and then on to Mount St. Joseph in San Francisco in the same position. She went on to serve as a Councillor the St. Louis Province for 10 years. She served as a social worker in several agencies, as director of Catholic Charities in Odessa, TX, as an executive director at Guardian Angel Settlement in St. Louis, MO and as a volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Society in San Antonio, TX. Most recently she moved to Seton Residence in Evansville where she became active in the ministry of prayer.
"Those I serve have taught me so much about God. They have taught me to pray in the simplicity of their approach to their God. Their tremendous trust in Him is a constant stimulus to me. I know I could never contend with what they endure from day to day. Their suffering endured with faith is a daily incentive to me to serve that life can be better for them."
- Sister Mary Thomas McNeela
Sr. Virginia Dunker, age 74, died on Thursday, February 26, 2009. Virginia was the oldest of three children born to Barnwell and Hazel Brown Dunker in Perryville, MO on November 15, 1934. Sr. Virginia received her early education in Perryville and graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1952. She entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis on June 1, 1952.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Virginia received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Marillac College in St. Louis, and later her Masters in Religious Education from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. At the time of her death, Sr. Virginia worked for the Arkansas Department of Corrections in Gould as a Literacy Tutor and volunteered at St. Catherine’s House in Little Rock.
Sr. Virginia served as an elementary and middle grades teacher; Director of Religious Education in parishes in Oklahoma, Little Rock, Chicago, Phoenix, Louisiana, Iowa, and St. Louis, and volunteered at the Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock. She also worked as a Docent/Hostess at the Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
"What energizes me about my ministry is the opportunity to work with inmates in a men's state prison. I work in the school department of the prison and work individually with inmates who need extra help in learning to read better. They are very responsive and grateful for the added help I am able to give them."
- Sister Virginia Dunker, February 21, 2009
Sr. Mary Teresa Huber, age 93, died at DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, MO on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. Cordelia Theresa was one of three children born to Theodore and Theresa Brown Huber in Perryville, Missouri on July 13, 1915. Sr. Mary Teresa received her early education in Perryville and graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1933. She entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis on September 30, 1933.
As a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Mary Teresa received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fontbonne College in St. Louis, and later her Masters in Education from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
During her 75 years in ministry as a Daughter of Charity, Sr. Mary Teresa taught as a primary, elementary and middle grade teacher and principal in Alabama, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, New Orleans, Illinois, Washington state, Texas, West Plains and Perryville, MO. She also served as Sister Servant of her local communities in New Orleans, LaSalle, IL and Ephrata, WA. Most recently she lived in Maryland Heights, MO and was involved in the Ministry of Prayer.