Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati / In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Sister Teresa Chang

S. Teresa Chang (formerly Sister Marie Perboyre) died Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, at the age of 96 at Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She was born Teresa Chang on Jan. 21, 1916, in Hupeh, China, the daughter of Yun Ting and Wang She Chang. Sister Teresa Chang was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 71 years.

S. Teresa was a convert to Catholicism, joining the Church in 1930, at the age of 14. As a young girl she wanted to go into the nursing profession and in 1936, Sister began working in the training school with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati at St. Joseph Hospital in Wuchang, China, a city located 600 miles up the Yangtze River from Shanghai. The hospital, a mission of the Sisters of Charity, cared for the aged, the sick, orphans and also served as a training center for nurses.

We learn from Sister’s autobiographical writings that she appreciated, “the love and dedication of the Sisters. I saw their tenderness as they took care of the sick and their love and devotion to the poor. I only knew I wanted to live a life like theirs.” Sister Teresa entered the Community in 1940. We also learn from Sister’s autobiography the following: “At that time the territory from China’s North East States to Wuchang was occupied by the Japanese. In 1943, during World War II, U.S. women and men religious were taken to a concentration camp in Shanghai, but Chinese-born Sisters were allowed to stay at St Joseph Hospital to treat war casualties until the end of the war in 1945, when Sisters of Charity were able to return to the hospital.”

However, the Sisters’ work amidst continuing hostilities between the Nationalists and the Communists was compromised. By 1949, it became necessary for the Sisters to leave China in the wake of the Communist takeover. (Women of Faith and Service: The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati by Sister Judith Metz).

When S. Teresa came to the United States she attended the School of Nursing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio where she obtained her licensed practical nursing degree, all the while performing sewing services for the Sisters of Charity in their Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse.

Beginning in 1952, S. Teresa worked the 12-hour night shift as a nurse aide at Mother Margaret Hall. In 1956, she was missioned to Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton, Ohio, to serve as an LPN for the next 23 years. Sister returned to the Motherhouse to serve as an LPN in Mother Margaret Hall from 1980 until 1986. Upon her retirement in 1986, S. Teresa served in Mother Margaret Hall as a patient companion for the sick and elderly Sisters.

Sister Mary Catherine Kelsey

S. Mary Catherine Kelsey (formerly Sister Ann Lorraine) died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, at the age of 94 at Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She was born Mary Catherine Kelsey on May 4, 1917, in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Clarence Edward and Elizabeth (Walsh) Kelsey. Sister Mary Catherine was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 76 years.

Sister earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1949. She also received the master’s degree in education from Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., in 1955, and the master’s degree in guidance counseling from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colo., in 1969.

S. Mary Catherine Kelsey began her teaching ministry in the primary grades at Resurrection School in Cincinnati, Ohio, (1935–’36). She moved to Memphis, Tenn., in 1937 to serve one year as junior high school teacher at St. Thomas School. Sister returned to teaching the elementary grades in 1938 at Shrine of the Little Flower School, Royal Oak, Mich., where she ministered until 1944. She also taught junior high school students at St. Mary School, Lansing, Mich., (1944–’49).

In 1949, Sister returned to the West where she would serve for the next 45 years in a several capacities including: St. Mary School, Albuquerque, N.M., (junior high school instructor 1949–’51, elementary principal 1954–’55) and Sacred Heart School, Denver, Colo., (principal and elementary superior 1951–’54).

S. Mary Catherine made a brief return to Ohio in 1955 for one year to serve as secondary instructor at Holy Name High School, Cleveland.

Returning to the West, Sister resumed her education ministry as principal and elementary superior at San Felipe School, Albuquerque, N.M., (1956–’62); Cathedral High School, Denver, Colo., (secondary teacher 1962’66); and St. Vincent de Paul, Albuquerque, (secondary teacher 1966–’67).

In 1967, Sister began her counseling ministry at St. Pius X, Albuquerque, (1967–’69). In 1969, Sister Mary Catherine immersed her talents in parish duties at Holy Family, Roy, N.M., (1969–’72). She served in the same capacity at St. Vincent de Paul, Denver, for one year in 1972. She ministered as elementary principal at St. Rose of Lima, Denver, from 1973–’74. Sister also taught elementary grades at St. Vincent de Paul, Denver, (1974–’78 and 1981–’84).

Sister worked as counselor at Machebeuf High School, Denver, from 1978 until 1981, when she moved to serve as receptionist for one year at Cherry Creek Nursing Home in Aurora, Colo., in 1984. A brief stint as teacher-counselor at Horizon Hospital in Denver commenced in 1985. In 1986, Sister taught at John Neumann High School in Pueblo, Colo., for one year as well.

S. Mary Catherine found herself at St. Mary High School, Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1987, to serve as counselor until 1990 and again from 1991–’95. She also ministered in the same capacity at Trinidad Catholic High School, Trinidad, Colo., as a secondary teacher from 1990–’91.

In retirement Sister served as a substitute teacher at St. Mary High School in Colorado Springs. She also volunteered with the local police department and served as Eucharistic Minister at Penrose-St Francis Hospital, Colorado Springs, as well as bringing Holy Communion to the homebound.

Associate Kathryn Moore

Kathryn (Kay) Moore Kay died on January 9, 2012, at the age of 88 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Kay was proud of being from a true pioneer family. Her ancestors followed the railroad west, finally settling in New Mexico in the 1860s. She was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 23, 1923. Her education was with the Sisters of Charity at St. Vincent Academy for Girls and St. Mary’s Catholic School in Albuquerque, the Loretto Academy in Santa Fe and she graduated from Santa Fe High School. She also attended secretarial school. She met her husband, Thurman, while working at the Santa Fe Civil Service Recruiting and Induction Center during World War II and they married in 1942. They had two sons and two daughters during their 44 years of marriage. She also had four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In her professional life, Kay worked at Sandia National Laboratories for 15 years. She began her volunteer career at St. Joseph Hospital in 1976, where her volunteer hours numbered in the thousands. In 1986, she became manager of the St. Joseph Healthcare Systems' three gift shops. She remained in that position until her retirement in 2006 at the age of 82. Kay was involved as a volunteer with the St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary for over 30 years, serving as its President for two consecutive terms beginning in 1981. She became President of the New Mexico Hospital Association Auxiliary Service in 1999. She was responsible for the completion of a $300,000 pledge drive enabling the opening of a new Critical Care Unit for St. Joseph Hospital, and always met 100% of her goals in fund-raising including raising a million dollars to benefit patient care and provide educational opportunities. In recognition of her extensive volunteer work, in 2004 she was inducted into the Silver Horizons New Mexico Senior Hall of Fame. Kay made her original commitment as an Associate in Mission on May 25, 1991 with Sr. Adele Baca as her Contact Sister.

Sister Rose Edward Simons

S. Rose Edward Simons died Monday, Jan 9, 2012, at the age of 87 at Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She was born Rose Marie Simons on Dec. 9, 1924, in Lima, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel and Rosina (Kemper) Simons. Sister Rose Edward was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 69 years.

In her autobiographical sketch we learn that Sister Rose Edward’s “call to the religious life was a very clear invitation from the Lord when one day at the age of 16, He said to me in my heart with persuasive sweetness, ‘I want you!’ From that day on I wanted nothing else than to become a Sister of Charity. I had no thought of entering any other Order, because I was educated through grade and high school by the Sisters of Charity at St. John’s in Lima, Ohio.”

Sister Rose Edward ministered exclusively in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, initially as an elementary music teacher. Later Sister served in the health care ministry at Mother Margaret Hall, at the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Motherhouse.

Sister began her music teaching career in 1943, at St. Teresa in Springfield, Ohio, serving there for four years. She moved to Cincinnati in 1947, to teach at St. Joseph Orphanage until 1949, when she began teaching music to the children at St. Boniface.

In 1951, Sister Rose Edward transitioned into other areas of service including one year at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati and one year (1952) as housekeeper at the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse. For the next 12 years (1952 – ’64) Sister ministered as a nurse aide in Mother Margaret Hall and as an EKG technician (1964 – ’72) in the same facility.

Sister Rose Edward became the supervisor of Central Services Department at Mother Margaret Hall in 1972, where she ministered until 1994. When she retired in 1994, Sister lovingly served as a companion to the sick and elderly Sisters in Mother Margaret Hall until 1998. She also helped out as a mail sorter in 1999.

Sister Mary Eunice McGreevy

S. Mary Eunice McGreevy died Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at the age of 87 at Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She was born Mary McGreevy on March 12, 1924, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of John Joseph and Mary (Connolly) McGreevy. Sister Mary Eunice entered the Community in 1941. She was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 70 years.

Sister earned the Bachelor of Science degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1958 and the master’s degree in religious education from Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1967.

Sister Mary Eunice taught at schools and served as pastoral assistant in many dioceses including Chicago, Ill., Cincinnati, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Mich., Phoenix, Ariz., Pueblo, Colo., and Santa Fe, N.M. including the following schools: St. Francis Xavier, Pueblo, Colo., (1943 – ’48); St. Elizabeth, Norwood (Cincinnati), Ohio, (1948 – ’49); Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Mich., (1949 – ’52); St. Sebastian, Chicago, Ill., (1952 – ’57 and 1978 – ’81)); St. Dominic, Cincinnati, (1957 – ’60); Holy Name, Cleveland, Ohio, (1960 – ’68); and Guardian Angels, Detroit, Mich., (1968 – ’72).

In 1972, Sister served in the parish religious education program at Sacred Heart parish in Oscoda, Mich., for one year. She returned to Guardian Angels parish, Detroit, in 1973 to minister to the sick and elderly until 1977. Sister Mary Eunice returned to teaching at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Birmingham, Mich., from 1977 until 1978.

In 1981, Sister participated in a nine-month live-in program sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati called, “An Active Spirituality for the Global Community,” held at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati.

Sister Mary Eunice relocated to South Holland, Ill., in 1982 to minister as secondary teacher in religious studies at Elizabeth Seton High School where she served for five years. Sister traveled West in 1987 to minister for the next ten years as pastoral assistant at Holy Cross parish in Mesa, Ariz. She retired as a volunteer at the St. Joseph Medical Center in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1997. Sister also volunteered with RCIA and choir at St. Bonaventure parish in Chicago in 2000. She returned to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Motherhouse, Mount St. Joseph, Ohio, in late 2000 to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

Sister Mary Susanne Wittwer

S. Mary Susanne Wittwer died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at the age of 87 at Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She was born Susanne Wittwer on Dec. 7, 1924, in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of James B. Cavanaugh and Mary Brogan. Sister Mary Susanne entered the Community in 1945. She was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 66 years.

Sister earned the Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1956 and the master’s degree in special education from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wis., in 1968.

Sister Mary Susanne taught at elementary schools in Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, and Ohio including St. Leo, Detroit, Mich., (1947 – ’49); St. Mary, Santa Fe, N.M., (1949 – ’55); Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Mich., (1955 – ’56); St. Rita School for the Deaf, Cincinnati, (1956 – ’61) and Holy Redeemer, Kensington, Md., (1978 – ’81) where she opened and staffed a resource center for the gifted. While working on her master’s degree, Sister taught children with learning disabilities at Springer Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1961 until 1971. Sister relocated to Potomac, Md., in 1971, where she taught children with learning disabilities for two years at St. Maurice Day School. She returned to Springer Elementary to minister from 1973 until 1978.

In 1981, Sister participated in a nine-month live-in program sponsored by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati called, “An Active Spirituality for the Global Community,” held at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati.

In the early 1980s, Sister Mary Susanne changed ministries to serve in religious education. She ministered as Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Fatima in Lansing, Mich., (1982 – ’85) St. Joseph, Owosso, Mich., (1985 – ’88); and St. Brigid, Xenia, Ohio (1988 – ’91).

In 1991, Sister Mary Susanne retired to Royal Oak, Mich., to serve as a volunteer tutor at Little Flower School. She worked there for one year until she relocated to Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, Mount St. Joseph, Ohio to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

Sister Mary Zinser

S. Mary Zinser (formerly S. Teresa Avila) died Dec. 4, 2011, at Mother Margaret Hall. S. Mary entered the Community from Gibsonburg, Ohio, in 1936. She was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 75 years.

Sister Mary Zinser earned the Bachelor of Science in education from The Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1951 and a bachelor’s degree in social studies in 1956 from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati.

Sister ministered as a teacher in elementary, intermediate and junior high school education and as a librarian in the following schools:

Sister ministered in elementary education at St. Mary, Lansing, Mich., (1938-’42); Little Flower, Royal Oak, Mich., (1942-’43); and Sts. Peter and Paul, Detroit, Mich., (1943-’46). She served as an intermediate teacher at St. Boniface, Cincinnati (1946-’52); St. Bernadette, Westlake, Ohio, (1952-’56); St. Mary (Hyde Park), Cincinnati (1956-’58); and St. Andrew, Milford, Ohio, (1958-’64).

S. Mary moved back to Michigan in 1964 to serve in the elementary teaching department at St. Mary School in Jackson, from 1964 until 1971. She taught social studies to intermediate students at St. Rose in Lima, Ohio, from 1971 until 1973 when she returned to Little Flower School in Royal Oak to serve in the elementary teaching department.

In 1977, Sister ministered as an elementary librarian at Holy Redeemer School in Kensington, Md., until 1982. She once again returned to Little Flower School in 1982 to serve in the same area for seven more years at which time she retired to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Motherhouse in 1989 to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

Sister Mary Xavier Sercombe

Mary Xavier Sercombe died Nov. 21, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in Jackson, Mich., S. Mary Xavier was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 58 years.

S. Mary Xavier graduated from St. Mary Catholic High School where the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati taught her. In her autobiographical writings, we learn that Sister “first became interested in religious life when I started school. In the seventh grade I wanted to become a nun, but for a long time I didn’t know which community to join. When I went to St. Mary’s, I knew I wanted to enter the Sisters of Charity. They were wonderful to me.”

When Sister was in high school, she cooked for her father and sister because her mother worked, so she wanted to cook for the Sisters when she joined the Community.

S. Mary Xavier ministered in food service for more than 25 years at the following facilities: St. Vincent Orphanage, Santa Fe, N.M., (1955-’56); Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Motherhouse, Delhi Township, Ohio, (1956-’60); El Pomar Retreat House, Colorado Springs, Colo., (1960-’66); Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati (1966-’69); Seton High School Convent, Cincinnati, Ohio, (1969-’77); and St. Jude Elementary School, Cincinnati (1977-’80).

While at St. Jude, Sister also served as a library assistant. She continued this work at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary School in Milford, Ohio, (1981-’83) and at St. Gabriel, Glendale, Ohio, (1983-’88).

In 1988, Sister joined the Terrace Guild in Cincinnati where she ministered as a child-care provider. She returned to food preparation in 1990 at Bayley senior care facility, Cincinnati. When health concerns indicated she could not be on her feet all day, S. Mary Xavier served at the information/reception desk at the Congregation’s Motherhouse. She retired in 2000 to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

Sister Margaret Seton Williams

S. Margaret Seton Williams died Nov. 8, 2011, at Mother Margaret Hall. Born Anna Margaret Williams, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in 1931, at the age of 16. S. Margaret Seton remained a member of the Congregation for 80 years. She earned the bachelor’s degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1959.

Sister ministered as a primary teacher for 35 years in the following schools: St. Mary, Hyde Park, Cincinnati, Ohio, (1935 – ’38); St. Aloysius, Fayetteville, Ohio, (group mother, 1938 – ’39); St. Michael, Findlay, Ohio, (1939 – ’40); St. John, Lima, Ohio, (1940 – ’42); St. Boniface, Cincinnati (1942 – ’45); St. Martin de Porres, Cincinnati (1945 – ’52); St. Helen, Saginaw, Mich., (1952 – ’54 and 1964 – ’66); Resurrection, Cincinnati (1954 – ’59); Holy Name, Cleveland, Ohio, (1959 – ’64); Sacred Heart, Conroe, Texas, (1966 – ’67) and Holy Cross, Thornton, Colo., (1967 – ’71).

In 1971, S. Margaret Seton’s service to education ended as she transitioned into parish ministry. During the summers of 1967 – ’70, Sister attended the Pastoral Institute, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, where she completed the three-year study, Directorship of Parish Religious Education Programs. In 1971, Sister began her parish ministry at Holy Cross, Thornton, Colo., to serve as the parish religious education coordinator.

When the convent at Holy Cross closed, S. Margaret Seton moved to Ft. Collins, Colo., to assume pastoral ministry responsibilities at St. Joseph parish from 1972 until 1981. She joined the founding staff at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Ft. Collins as pastoral minister (1981 – ’84). In her autobiographical papers Sister wrote, “[At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish] I took as my main responsibility the task of assisting in building a home program for grade school pupils and the youth programs.”

Sister retired to St. Elizabeth Residence in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1984 and volunteered as a receptionist at the El Pomar/Julie Penrose Renewal and Retreat Center in that city from 1985 – ’91, when she retired to serve in the Ministry of Prayer at the Motherhouse.

Sister Mary Louise Gattes

Mary Louise Gattes died Oct. 18, 2011, at Mother Margaret Hall. Born on May 7, 1914, in Sidney, Ohio, Sister Mary Louise was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 79 years. She earned the Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1950.

Sister Mary Louise ministered almost exclusively as a primary and intermediate schoolteacher in the dioceses of Detroit, Mich., Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and Lansing, Mich., from 1934 until 1971 including the following schools: Little Flower, Royal Oak, Mich., (1934-’39); St. Patrick, Cincinnati (1939-’40); Guardian Angels, Detroit (1940-’49); St. Raphael, Springfield, Ohio, (1949-’53); St. Saviour, Rossmoyne, Ohio, (1953-’56); Corpus Christi, Dayton, Ohio, (1956-’59); St. Anthony, Kenton, Ohio, (1959-’61); St. Mary, Marion, Ohio, (1961-’63); St. Mary, Jackson, Mich., (1963-’64); St. Anthony, Cincinnati (1964-’69) and St. Dominic, Cincinnati (1970-’71).

In 1971, Sister Mary Louise retired from teaching and began a 25-year volunteer ministry serving the poor who came to the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati seeking assistance. In 1995, Sister said, “I started helping the poor with clothes and food and anything they needed.” (The Catholic Telegraph, Nov. 3, 1995) When St. John’s Social Service Center took over the tasks of helping the poor, Sister worked in the Cathedral office directing those in need to appropriate agencies for help. On May 22, 1996, the staff of the Cathedral honored Sister for her tireless volunteer efforts. She retired to serve in the Ministry of Prayer in 1998.

Sister Carita Kemble

S. Carita Kemble died Oct. 9, 2011, at Mother Margaret Hall. Sister earned the Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1941; the Master of Arts in English from Xavier University, Cincinnati, in 1951; and the master’s in speech pathology from the University of Cincinnati in 1974.

S. Carita was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 76 years. She ministered almost exclusively as a high school and college instructor of speech and drama. The only time Sister did not serve in this field was during her initial teaching experience at Seton High School, Cincinnati, when she taught business classes from 1937 until 1939.

In 1939, Sister began her life’s passion at the Academy at Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, where she instructed students in the art of speech and drama until 1946. She returned to Seton High School in 1946 in the same capacity for the next five years.

In 1951, S. Carita traveled West to inspire students at Pueblo Catholic High School in Pueblo, Colo. The Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Mich., called to Sister from 1954 until 1961. She returned to the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1961 to teach speech for the next 21 years.

In 1999, S. Carita was awarded the Mother Seton Award, an honor recognizing the valuable contributions and service rendered to the Sisters of Charity by people within and outside the Congregation. A nominator said Sister Carita “is a woman of integrity, a woman of the Gospel and a woman of wisdom. In her autumn years, she willingly shares her depth of spirituality. She walks in humility and fully lives out, day after day, the simple creed that ‘God is All.’”

A true devotee of the dramatic arts, Sister Carita portrayed Mother Margaret George, the founder of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, in the play “Legacy of Love,” written by the late S. Lynne Mancinelli. Sister Carita portrayed Saint Elizabeth Seton and Sister Blandina Segale in other plays as well. In her autobiographical writings, Sister Carita observed, “Teaching drama and staging plays was a challenging and nerve-wracking ministry, but it was a great joy to afford students and talented persons in the Tri-State area, an opportunity to experience the thrills and aesthetic delights of show business.”

Upon her retirement in 1982, S. Carita assisted those Sisters in Mother Margaret Hall affected by stroke, illness, impaired hearing, or communication difficulties, by applying speech pathology techniques she learned over her years of study and practice.

For remembrances of S. Carita, click here.

Sister Florence Brotzge

S. Florence Brotzge (formerly S. Marcellus) died Oct. 8, 2011, at Mother Margaret Hall. Born in Louisville, Ky., Sister earned the Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1947, and the master’s in curriculum from St. John’s Teachers College, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1960.

S. Florence was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 79 years. She ministered in both elementary and secondary education, as well as in pastoral care, serving in Ohio, Illinois and Michigan.

Her long teaching service at the following schools included: St. Leo, Detroit, Mich., (1934-’39 and 1944-’48); Holy Family, Cincinnati, Ohio, (1939-’41); St. Lawrence, Cincinnati (1941-’44); St. Sebastian, Chicago, Ill., (1948-’49 and 1960-’63); St. Joseph, Springfield, Ohio, (1949-’51); St. Anthony, Cincinnati (1951-’52); Holy Angels, Sidney, Ohio, (1952-’54); St. Bernard, Springfield, Ohio, (1954-’57); St. William, Cincinnati (1958-’60); Holy Name, Cleveland, Ohio, (1958); Little Flower, Royal Oak, Mich., (1963-’67); Corpus Christi, Dayton, Ohio, (1967-’69); and St. Raphael, Springfield, Ohio, (1969-’70).

Prior to joining the Congregation, S. Florence worked in the business office at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati for seven years. There she became acquainted with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati who founded the hospital. After her teaching career ended, Sister returned to Good Samaritan Hospital as a Sister of Charity to minister in the pulmonary rehabilitation department from 1970 until 1973. At that time, she began an 11-year mission in pastoral care at the hospital.

In addition to working full time at the hospital, S. Florence was a devoted participant in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She was elected a vice president of the council in 1976. The first woman to hold an office, S. Florence was responsible for recruiting women into existing and new St. Vincent de Paul conferences.

S. Florence retired to the St. Joseph Retirement Center in Sharonville (Cincinnati) in 1984 where she volunteered and crocheted afghans for the boutique at St. Joseph Home to benefit the residents of the facility. Sister returned to the Motherhouse in 1997 to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

For remembrances of S. Florence, click here.

Sister Martha Farlow

S. Martha Farlow died Sept. 27, 2011, at Mother Margaret Hall. Born Elise C. Farlow in Chicago, Ill., Sister earned the Bachelor of Science degree in education from the Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, in 1944. In addition, Sister earned the Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, in 1951, the master’s in religious education from Fordham University, New York, N.Y., in 1956 and the master’s in education from Loyola University, Chicago, Ill., in 1970.

S. Martha was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 72 years. She ministered in both elementary and secondary education, as well as serving as a high school counselor. She also devoted her efforts to parish ministry and retreat work.

Her long teaching service included the following schools: Immaculata, Cincinnati (1943-’45); St. Patrick, Cincinnati (1946); St. John the Baptist, Harrison, Ohio, (1946-’47); St. Dominic, Cincinnati (1947-’54); Holy Name, Cleveland, Ohio, (1954-’59); and St. Sebastian, Chicago (1959-’61).

S. Martha served as a counselor at several high schools including Seton High School, Cincinnati (1961-’64); St. James, Bay City, Mich., (1964-’66); Central Catholic, Lima, Ohio, (1966-’68); Catholic Central, Springfield, Ohio, (1968-’71); and Marian High School, Cincinnati (1971-’72).

In 1972 Sister transitioned to pastoral ministry at Christ the King parish in Pueblo, Colo. From there she ministered in the same capacity at San Felipe parish (1974); St. Joseph Hospital (1974-’77); and Annunciation parish (1977-’78), all in Albuquerque, N.M.

S. Martha worked as the associate program director at the Catholic Charismatic Center in Albuquerque from 1978 until 1980 when she moved to Walled Lake, Mich., to serve at St. William parish in an outreach capacity for one year.

Returning to teaching and the West in 1981, S. Martha taught junior high students at San Miguel in Socorro, N.M., until 1984 when she entered retreat work at the Desert House of Prayer in Cortaro, Ariz., where she ministered until 1988. In a 1986 Intercom article Sister said, “Prayer, silence, solitude and community are the unifying factors that prevail throughout our environment … Since I have been at the Desert House my worries and concerns for suffering people everywhere have found a deeper level of realization.”

In 1988, Sister once again participated in pastoral ministry at St. Michael parish, Gila Bend, Ariz., for one year. She served as a librarian at Annunciation School in Albuquerque from 1989 until 1991 before retiring to volunteer work within the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, N.M. S. Martha returned to the Motherhouse in 1997 to volunteer as needed and to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

For remembrances of S. Martha, click here.

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