A funeral Mass for Sister Barbara Karleskint, RSM, was celebrated Sept. 9, in the chapel at Catherine’s Residence, where she had resided since 2006. Sister Barbara died on Sept. 8 at her residence. She was 98 and a had been a Sister of Mercy for 80 years.
Born in Miami, Okla., Sister entered the Sisters of Mercy on June 20, 1937 and pronounced first vows on March 12, 1940. She was known as Sister Mary Clarence at that time.
She earned a bachelor’s in home economics from St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana in 1951 and a master’s in elementary education from the University of St. Mary’s in Xavier, Kan., in 1955. Sister Barbara also received her certificate of pastoral education in 1977 from St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Mo.
Sister Barbara’s ministries included teaching for more than 25 in elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. She also ministered at Mercy Center in St. Louis, and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Hutchinson, Kan. After completing her courses in clinical pastoral counseling, Sister Barbara served in chaplaincy at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan. She also completed a sabbatical year at Mercy Center in Madison, Conn.
Sister Barbara retired in 2004 and moved to St. Joseph Convent of Mercy in St. Louis, and, in 2006 moved to Catherine’s Residence. In retirement, she took art lessons and became an accomplished artist.
She is survived by a brother, Anthony Karleskint.
