Sister M. Judith Ann Kleinheider, SSND
(née Joan Cornelia Kleinheider)
First Profession August 2, 1954
Motherhouse
St. Louis, Missouri
"[God] sends suffering and the cross to those He loves, so that He may reward them more abundantly in the next world." [#3634] This reminder from our foundress, Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, was very evident in the life of Sister Judith Ann as she valiantly endured the complications of brain cancer following a very active life of educating elementary students.
The eighth child of Hilda [née Busch] and George Kleinheider was born on December 20, 1933, in Washington, Mo. Two days later, she was baptized at St. Francis Borgia Church and received the name, Joan Cornelia. Seven brothers and three sisters blessed this family. From a young age, she was influenced by the steadfast faith of her mother and the devotion within the family of daily prayer, family rosary, and attending daily Mass even during summer months.
Joan attended St. Francis Borgia Grade School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Inspired by her teachers, she desired to become one of them. Following graduation from 8th grade, she asked her parents to allow her to enter the Aspiranture. A week later, her older sister (Sister Laverne Kleinheider, SSND) told Joan that she was entering the candidature. It was a gift of her generous parents to allow two daughters to leave at the same time.
Joan completed her high school courses in three years and entered the candidature on August 30, 1951. During her second year of candidature, she was missioned to St. George, Linn, Mo., to teach grades 3 and 4. She was received into the novitiate on August 1, 1953, and given the name, M. Judith Ann. Profession of first vows was August 2, 1954, and final vows on August 2, 1960.
Sister Judith Ann ministered in elementary education for more than 50 years, teaching intermediate and junior high students. In Illinois, she served at St. Mary, Alton; St. Teresa, Belleville; Holy Angels, East St. Louis; and St. Charles, Dubois. In Missouri, she taught at St. Peter, Jefferson City; St. Joseph, Scott City; Immaculate Conception, Dardenne; St. George, Linn; and St. Francis Xavier, Sikeston. She was also principal at Scott City and Dardenne. She spent five years teaching at St. Marianne in Pico Rivera, Calif. In 2002, she came to the motherhouse and tutored children in the Notre Dame Tutorial/Learning Center. During this time, she also volunteered on Saturdays at St. Augustine Wellston Center in Wellston, Mo.
In January 2009, Sister Judith Ann was diagnosed with cancer. The brain tumor did not readily respond to chemotherapy and radiation. Although she valiantly continued to be present for daily Mass and to walk outside,
the cancer progressed. Sister LaVerne was frequently by her side assisting wherever she could. Sister Judith Ann died peacefully in the motherhouse infirmary on October 27, 2009, around 5:30 p.m. as two sisters prayed with her. She donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine.
A memorial Mass of Resurrection was held at the motherhouse on November 2, 2009. She is survived by three sisters and two brothers.
Sister Judith Ann was an excellent elementary educator, a congenial and self-sacrificing community member, and a woman deeply in love with her God and God's people. She was generous in her service of others and valued her volunteer ministry with the people in Wellston. Her final months of bearing the cross of cancer and its complications were an
inspiration to all of us. Her life bore witness to her chosen motto, "Jesus, Thine I am in life and in death, in poverty, chastity and obedience." May she now rejoice in the abundant reward God has prepared for her!
(School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province)
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!
(née Joan Cornelia Kleinheider)
First Profession August 2, 1954
Motherhouse
St. Louis, Missouri
"[God] sends suffering and the cross to those He loves, so that He may reward them more abundantly in the next world." [#3634] This reminder from our foundress, Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, was very evident in the life of Sister Judith Ann as she valiantly endured the complications of brain cancer following a very active life of educating elementary students.
The eighth child of Hilda [née Busch] and George Kleinheider was born on December 20, 1933, in Washington, Mo. Two days later, she was baptized at St. Francis Borgia Church and received the name, Joan Cornelia. Seven brothers and three sisters blessed this family. From a young age, she was influenced by the steadfast faith of her mother and the devotion within the family of daily prayer, family rosary, and attending daily Mass even during summer months.
Joan attended St. Francis Borgia Grade School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Inspired by her teachers, she desired to become one of them. Following graduation from 8th grade, she asked her parents to allow her to enter the Aspiranture. A week later, her older sister (Sister Laverne Kleinheider, SSND) told Joan that she was entering the candidature. It was a gift of her generous parents to allow two daughters to leave at the same time.
Joan completed her high school courses in three years and entered the candidature on August 30, 1951. During her second year of candidature, she was missioned to St. George, Linn, Mo., to teach grades 3 and 4. She was received into the novitiate on August 1, 1953, and given the name, M. Judith Ann. Profession of first vows was August 2, 1954, and final vows on August 2, 1960.
Sister Judith Ann ministered in elementary education for more than 50 years, teaching intermediate and junior high students. In Illinois, she served at St. Mary, Alton; St. Teresa, Belleville; Holy Angels, East St. Louis; and St. Charles, Dubois. In Missouri, she taught at St. Peter, Jefferson City; St. Joseph, Scott City; Immaculate Conception, Dardenne; St. George, Linn; and St. Francis Xavier, Sikeston. She was also principal at Scott City and Dardenne. She spent five years teaching at St. Marianne in Pico Rivera, Calif. In 2002, she came to the motherhouse and tutored children in the Notre Dame Tutorial/Learning Center. During this time, she also volunteered on Saturdays at St. Augustine Wellston Center in Wellston, Mo.
In January 2009, Sister Judith Ann was diagnosed with cancer. The brain tumor did not readily respond to chemotherapy and radiation. Although she valiantly continued to be present for daily Mass and to walk outside,
the cancer progressed. Sister LaVerne was frequently by her side assisting wherever she could. Sister Judith Ann died peacefully in the motherhouse infirmary on October 27, 2009, around 5:30 p.m. as two sisters prayed with her. She donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine.
A memorial Mass of Resurrection was held at the motherhouse on November 2, 2009. She is survived by three sisters and two brothers.
Sister Judith Ann was an excellent elementary educator, a congenial and self-sacrificing community member, and a woman deeply in love with her God and God's people. She was generous in her service of others and valued her volunteer ministry with the people in Wellston. Her final months of bearing the cross of cancer and its complications were an
inspiration to all of us. Her life bore witness to her chosen motto, "Jesus, Thine I am in life and in death, in poverty, chastity and obedience." May she now rejoice in the abundant reward God has prepared for her!
(School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province)
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!
Sister M. Judith Ann Kleinheider, SSND
(née Joan Cornelia Kleinheider)
First Profession August 2, 1954
Motherhouse
St. Louis, Missouri
"[God] sends suffering and the cross to those He loves, so that He may reward them more abundantly in the next world." [#3634] This reminder from our foundress, Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, was very evident in the life of Sister Judith Ann as she valiantly endured the complications of brain cancer following a very active life of educating elementary students.
The eighth child of Hilda [née Busch] and George Kleinheider was born on December 20, 1933, in Washington, Mo. Two days later, she was baptized at St. Francis Borgia Church and received the name, Joan Cornelia. Seven brothers and three sisters blessed this family. From a young age, she was influenced by the steadfast faith of her mother and the devotion within the family of daily prayer, family rosary, and attending daily Mass even during summer months.
Joan attended St. Francis Borgia Grade School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Inspired by her teachers, she desired to become one of them. Following graduation from 8th grade, she asked her parents to allow her to enter the Aspiranture. A week later, her older sister (Sister Laverne Kleinheider, SSND) told Joan that she was entering the candidature. It was a gift of her generous parents to allow two daughters to leave at the same time.
Joan completed her high school courses in three years and entered the candidature on August 30, 1951. During her second year of candidature, she was missioned to St. George, Linn, Mo., to teach grades 3 and 4. She was received into the novitiate on August 1, 1953, and given the name, M. Judith Ann. Profession of first vows was August 2, 1954, and final vows on August 2, 1960.
Sister Judith Ann ministered in elementary education for more than 50 years, teaching intermediate and junior high students. In Illinois, she served at St. Mary, Alton; St. Teresa, Belleville; Holy Angels, East St. Louis; and St. Charles, Dubois. In Missouri, she taught at St. Peter, Jefferson City; St. Joseph, Scott City; Immaculate Conception, Dardenne; St. George, Linn; and St. Francis Xavier, Sikeston. She was also principal at Scott City and Dardenne. She spent five years teaching at St. Marianne in Pico Rivera, Calif. In 2002, she came to the motherhouse and tutored children in the Notre Dame Tutorial/Learning Center. During this time, she also volunteered on Saturdays at St. Augustine Wellston Center in Wellston, Mo.
In January 2009, Sister Judith Ann was diagnosed with cancer. The brain tumor did not readily respond to chemotherapy and radiation. Although she valiantly continued to be present for daily Mass and to walk outside,
the cancer progressed. Sister LaVerne was frequently by her side assisting wherever she could. Sister Judith Ann died peacefully in the motherhouse infirmary on October 27, 2009, around 5:30 p.m. as two sisters prayed with her. She donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine.
A memorial Mass of Resurrection was held at the motherhouse on November 2, 2009. She is survived by three sisters and two brothers.
Sister Judith Ann was an excellent elementary educator, a congenial and self-sacrificing community member, and a woman deeply in love with her God and God's people. She was generous in her service of others and valued her volunteer ministry with the people in Wellston. Her final months of bearing the cross of cancer and its complications were an
inspiration to all of us. Her life bore witness to her chosen motto, "Jesus, Thine I am in life and in death, in poverty, chastity and obedience." May she now rejoice in the abundant reward God has prepared for her!
(School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province)
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!
(née Joan Cornelia Kleinheider)
First Profession August 2, 1954
Motherhouse
St. Louis, Missouri
"[God] sends suffering and the cross to those He loves, so that He may reward them more abundantly in the next world." [#3634] This reminder from our foundress, Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, was very evident in the life of Sister Judith Ann as she valiantly endured the complications of brain cancer following a very active life of educating elementary students.
The eighth child of Hilda [née Busch] and George Kleinheider was born on December 20, 1933, in Washington, Mo. Two days later, she was baptized at St. Francis Borgia Church and received the name, Joan Cornelia. Seven brothers and three sisters blessed this family. From a young age, she was influenced by the steadfast faith of her mother and the devotion within the family of daily prayer, family rosary, and attending daily Mass even during summer months.
Joan attended St. Francis Borgia Grade School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Inspired by her teachers, she desired to become one of them. Following graduation from 8th grade, she asked her parents to allow her to enter the Aspiranture. A week later, her older sister (Sister Laverne Kleinheider, SSND) told Joan that she was entering the candidature. It was a gift of her generous parents to allow two daughters to leave at the same time.
Joan completed her high school courses in three years and entered the candidature on August 30, 1951. During her second year of candidature, she was missioned to St. George, Linn, Mo., to teach grades 3 and 4. She was received into the novitiate on August 1, 1953, and given the name, M. Judith Ann. Profession of first vows was August 2, 1954, and final vows on August 2, 1960.
Sister Judith Ann ministered in elementary education for more than 50 years, teaching intermediate and junior high students. In Illinois, she served at St. Mary, Alton; St. Teresa, Belleville; Holy Angels, East St. Louis; and St. Charles, Dubois. In Missouri, she taught at St. Peter, Jefferson City; St. Joseph, Scott City; Immaculate Conception, Dardenne; St. George, Linn; and St. Francis Xavier, Sikeston. She was also principal at Scott City and Dardenne. She spent five years teaching at St. Marianne in Pico Rivera, Calif. In 2002, she came to the motherhouse and tutored children in the Notre Dame Tutorial/Learning Center. During this time, she also volunteered on Saturdays at St. Augustine Wellston Center in Wellston, Mo.
In January 2009, Sister Judith Ann was diagnosed with cancer. The brain tumor did not readily respond to chemotherapy and radiation. Although she valiantly continued to be present for daily Mass and to walk outside,
the cancer progressed. Sister LaVerne was frequently by her side assisting wherever she could. Sister Judith Ann died peacefully in the motherhouse infirmary on October 27, 2009, around 5:30 p.m. as two sisters prayed with her. She donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine.
A memorial Mass of Resurrection was held at the motherhouse on November 2, 2009. She is survived by three sisters and two brothers.
Sister Judith Ann was an excellent elementary educator, a congenial and self-sacrificing community member, and a woman deeply in love with her God and God's people. She was generous in her service of others and valued her volunteer ministry with the people in Wellston. Her final months of bearing the cross of cancer and its complications were an
inspiration to all of us. Her life bore witness to her chosen motto, "Jesus, Thine I am in life and in death, in poverty, chastity and obedience." May she now rejoice in the abundant reward God has prepared for her!
(School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province)
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!
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