A memorial Mass for Sister Anna Margaret Kern, CSJ, will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 15, at Nazareth Living Center in south St. Louis County. Sister Anna died April 18 at Nazareth Living Center. She was 98.
Sister Anna Margaret, baptized Helen Margaret, was born on April 10, 1927, in Ste. Genevieve to Francis X. and Anna Margaret (O’Hearn) Kern. She was received into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1948. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1967.
In 1950, Sister Anna served two years as general help at St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in St. Louis. She moved to Chicago in 1952 and taught for 10 years at St. Joseph Carondelet Child Center.
In 1962, Sister Anna taught at St. Paul School in Negaunee, Michigan. A year later, she returned to St. Louis to teach elementary education at St. Jude School, where she remained until 1965. She then spent the next year teaching at St. Joseph’s Home for Boys.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Sister Anna served in the Archdiocese of St. Louis for the next 38 years. She taught at St. Vincent de Paul School (1967-1969) and Holy Rosary School (1969-1975) in St. Louis. She then served as secretary at St. Louis Cathedral School for the next five years. In 1980, she returned to teaching and spent the next six years at Sts. John and James School in Ferguson. In 1987, she went on to teach at Good Shepherd School in Ferguson, where she would complete her years of ministry in education.
Sister Anna retired in 2005. Since 2013, she had resided at Nazareth Living Center, carrying out her mission of prayer and presence.
Sister Anna donated her body to science.
