65th Reception of the Habit
Sister Carole (Sister Mary Lea) Eschen
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1960
First profession: 1963
Final profession: 1969
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, with minors in theology and science, Webster College, 1965
Master’s in biology, St. Mary’s College, Winona, Minnesota, 1975
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, St. Mary’s Academy High School, Englewood, Colorado, 1965-69
Teacher, Loretto Academy, Kansas City, Missouri, 1969-84
Teacher, Hyman Brand Hebrew Acadeinnmy, Kansas City, Missouri, 1984-86
Teacher, Kansas City Academy of Learning, 1986-2018
About Sister Carole Eschen: Sister Carole was received into the Loretto Community on May 31, 1961. She is a Nerinx Hall alum, class of 1960. She retired in 2018 after 53 years of teaching math and science at four schools. Sister Carole resides in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is committed to her parish community. She also volunteers for The Whole Person, a program for people with special needs. Sister Carole enjoys hand-sewing, reading and puzzles. She followed the path of Loretto’s early sisters as an educator. She has lived the Loretto charism of education: The purpose of the community includes the instruction of youth and any service compatible with the spirit of the institute.
Sister Anndavid Naeger
Birth name: Shirley Ann Naeger
Birthplace: Ste. Genevieve
Entrance: 1960
First profession: 1963
Final profession: 1968
Education: Bachelor’s in English, with a minor in education, Webster College, Webster Groves, 1965
Master’s in English, Loyola/Marymount University, Los Angeles, 1974
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, Guardian Angel School, El Paso, Texas, 1965-67
Teacher, St. Patrick School, El Paso, 1967-68
Teacher, Sacred Heart School, El Paso, 1968-69
Teacher and principal, Guardian Angel School, El Paso, 1969-71
Teacher, Zach White Junior High, El Paso, 1971-72
Teacher, Henderson Intermediate Middle School, El Paso, 1972-77
Teacher, Loretto Academy, El Paso, 1977-85
Secretary for special religious education, Archdiocese of Denver, 1985-93
Administrative assistant and admissions director, Nazareth Hall, El Paso, 1993-98
Co-director, Jesus Our Hope Hermitage, Littleton, Colorado, 1999-2002
Secretary in Maintenance Department, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 2002-07
Postmaster relief, Loretto Motherhouse, 2003-10
Community seamstress, Loretto Motherhouse, 2007-present
Writer, Our Days at Loretto Motherhouse Newsletter, Loretto Motherhouse, 2003-present
About Sister Anndavid Naeger: Sister Anndavid was received into Loretto on May 31, 1961. She resides at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky. She is excellent at sewing — she began the Sewing Loft at the motherhouse in 2007. Sister Anndavid also created “Our Days at Loretto Motherhouse,”a monthly newsletter recording the daily history of Loretto Motherhouse. She has served as its chief writer, editor, photographer and production artist since 2002. Sister Anndavid lives according to the Loretto Constitutions’ “spirit and teachings.”
70th Reception of the Habit
Sister Elaine Marie Prevallet
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1955
First profession: 1958
Final profession: 1963
Education: Bachelor’s in English, with minors in philosophy and sociology, Loretto Heights College, Denver, 1955
Master’s in theology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, 1963
Doctorate in religious studies, Marquette University, Milwaukee, 1967
Studies of Eastern religions in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Kyoto, Japan
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, St. Mary’s Academy High School, Denver, 1958-61
Theology teacher, Loretto Heights College, Denver, 1967-76
Theology department chair, Loretto Heights College, Denver, 1967
Member, executive committee, Sisters of Loretto, 1970-73
Teaching staff, Pendle Hill, Wallingford, Pennsylvania, 1976-78
Director of Knobs Haven, a retreat center at Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 1978-2000
Member, executive committee, Sisters of Loretto, 1986-90
Vice president, Sisters of Loretto, 1987-90, included serving on Loretto committee to revise congregation’s constitutions
Writing, lecturing and guiding retreats, 2004-present
About Sister Elaine Marie Prevallet: Sister Elaine was received into Loretto on May 24, 1956. Sister Elaine was educated from first grade through college by the Sisters of Loretto. She is an alum of Nerinx Hall, class of 1951. A gifted writer, Sister Elaine has had many articles published, particularly on the subject of spirituality. She lectures, guides retreats and continues her writing. She resides at Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky. Loretto’s Constitutions say, “As Sisters of Loretto, our lives are founded upon a profound act of faith in the enduring love of God and a need to share that love.” Sister Elaine said she has shared that love her whole life in Loretto.
Sister Maria (Sister Richard Marie) Visse
Birth name: Mary Suzanne Visse
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1955
First profession: 1958
Final profession: 1963
Education: Bachelor’s in music, with a minor in education, Webster College, Webster Groves, 1960
Bachelor’s in nursing, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, 1987
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Music teacher, Immaculate Conception School, Maplewood, 1961-63
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, Christ the King School, Louisville, Kentucky, 1960-61
Loretto mission, Santiago, Chile, 1964-79
Science teacher, Holy Redeemer School, New York, 1979-81
Teacher, birth preparation classes, Program de Bienestar de la Mujery Y Del Nino (Medical Brigade), Managua, Nicaragua, 1981-82
Labor and delivery nurse, Holy Cross Hospital, Taos, New Mexico, 1988-2008
Member, Executive Committee/Forum for Loretto Community, 2007-12
Service coordinator, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 2009-15
Community service, Loretto Motherhouse, 2015-present
About Sister Maria Visse: Sister Maria was received into Loretto on May 24, 1956. She was taught by the Sisters of Loretto from grade school through college. While in Chile, Sister Maria was a member of the Universidad Tecnica de Chile Chorale. The chorale’s U.S. tour included a performance at Lincoln Center in New York. Working with the Medical Brigade, Sister Maria helped to set up three health clinics in Nicaragua. She resides at Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky, and continues her music, performing as a vocalist and composing original works. All of Sister Maria’s life she has lived out Loretto’s Constitutions, especially article No. 7, which reads in part, “We continue to extend the boundaries of learning and justice, of human dignity and peace, of active faith and pastoral concern through works of education and efforts on behalf of the poor.”
Sister Beatrice (Sister Mary Celeste) Klebba
Birthplace: Detroit
Entrance: 1951
First profession: 1953
Final profession: 1957
Education: Bachelor’s in education, Webster College, Webster Groves, 1961
Master’s in mathematics, Webster College, 1966
Licensed practical nurse degree, O’Fallon Technical Center, 1989
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, St. Cronan School, St. Louis, 1955-59
Teacher, St. Paul the Apostle School, Pine Lawn, 1959-61
Teacher, St. Michael School, St. Louis, 1961-63
Teacher, St. Pius V School, St. Louis, 1963-66 and 1970-88
Teacher, St. Ann School, Normandy, 1966-67
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, St. Augustine School, Lebanon, Kentucky, 1954-55
Teacher, St. James School, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, 1967-70
Nurse, Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary, Nerinx, Kentucky, 1989-96
Assistant, Loretto Finance Office, Loretto Motherhouse, 1996-98
Community service, Loretto Motherhouse, 1998-present
About Sister Beatrice Klebba: Sister Beatrice was received into Loretto on Dec. 8, 1951. She resides at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky, where she continues to perform community service. Through Sister Bea’s work in schools, hospital ministry and in retirement, she finds joy and meaning in her service. Sister Bea has lived out Loretto’s Constitutions as she has “sought compassionate ways to serve the suffering body of Christ.”
Sister Claudette LoPorto
Birth name: Agnes Ann LoPorto
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1950
First profession: 1953
Final profession: 1956
Education: Bachelor’s in education, with a minor in social studies, Webster College, Webster Groves, 1967
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, St. Agnes School, Springfield, Missouri, 1953-55
Teacher, Loretto Academy, Kansas City, Missouri, 1955-56
Teacher, St. Patrick School, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1956-57
Teacher, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Socorro, New Mexico, 1957-59
Teacher, Christ the King School, Daphne, Alabama, 1959-60
Teacher, Sacred Heart School, Kansas City, Missouri, 1960-65
Teacher, St. Patrick School, El Paso, Texas, 1965-68
Social work, Booth Memorial Hospital, Oakland, California, 1968-69
Social work, Sunnyvale Medical Pharmacy, Sunnyvale, California, 1970-74
Customer service, Community Bank, San Jose, California, 1974-76
Receptionist, aviation safety, Battelle Memorial Institute of Columbus, Ohio, a research project entity sponsored by NASA and based in Mountain View, California, 1977-85
Corporate receptionist in the legal department, Apple Computer, Cupertino, California, 1985-2001
Volunteer, Senior Homeless Center, Oakland, California, 2001-06
Community service, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 2011-present
About Sister Claudette LoPorto: Sister Claudette was received into Loretto on April 25, 1951. Working at Apple for 16 years, she saw Apple founder Steve Jobs daily. “I opened the door for him every day. It was just a happy place, and I loved it,” she said. Sister Claudette retired in 2001. She then served as a volunteer for several years. Her home in Danville, California, was recognized by many for its spirit of hospitality. In 2011, Sister Claudette moved to the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky, where she continues her service to the Loretto Community. Among her many gifts, she designs and arranges creative displays in celebration of major holidays at the Motherhouse. She also enjoys gardening. Through her varied ministries across the years, Sister Claudette has lived out Loretto’s Constitutions and “helped many others live according to its spirit and teachings.”
