Sister Constance (Connie) Bauer, OP, of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died Oct. 3 at home in St. Louis. She was 81 years old. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Catherine Laboure Church, 9740 Sappington Road. Visitation will precede the Mass at 10 a.m.
Sister Connie was born in Colorado on May 24, 1944, to Peter and Leona Meuer Bauer. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill, New York, on Sept. 8, 1962, and received the name Sister Leo Peter. Sister Connie professed her first vows in 1964 and final vows in 1969.
Sister Connie earned a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill in 1967. She began her teaching ministry in New York at St. Helena School in the Bronx from 1965-68. She returned to St. Louis and taught at St. Kevin School from 1968-75 and St. Elizabeth School from 1975-82.
From 1982-83, Sister Connie studied at St. Mary’s School of Nursing and earned her certification as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). After completing her studies, Sister Connie worked with children as an LPN at Rankin Jordan Pediatric from 1983-2002. From 2002 until her death, she served as a receptionist at St. Catherine Laboure Parish in Sappington.
Sister Connie’s parents, Peter and Leona Meurer, predeceased her. She is survived by her beloved brother Peter, her niece Amy Sidenstricker, her nephew Tim Bauer, many relatives, Dominican Sisters and Associates and friends.
