A funeral Mass for Sister Lucy (formerly Marie Duchesne) Vehige, SSND, was celebrated Dec. 17 at the Theresa Center Chapel at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis. Sister Lucy died Dec. 10 at Anna House-The Sarah Community in Bridgeton. She was 88.
The second youngest of nine children, she was born to Elizabeth (Lindhorst) and John Vehige on April 26, 1937, in St. Charles. She was baptized at St. Charles Borromeo Church on May 2, 1937, and named Lucille Matilda. In the family of five girls and four boys, she was always called Lucy. An older sister who was a twin died shortly after birth. Three of the girls entered religious life with the School Sisters of Notre Dame and Franciscan Sisters of Mary: Sister Liguori, SSND; Sister Grace Marie, SSM; and Sister Lucy, SSND.
Lucy attended St. Charles Borromeo Grade School staffed by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. During her freshman year at St. Peter High School, she had the opportunity to spend an evening at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis and was so impressed that she asked her parents if she could attend the aspiranture. She completed her high school education at Notre Dame High School in St. Louis.
Lucy received the candidate bonnet at her home parish of St. Charles Borromeo on Aug. 30, 1954. She was received into the novitiate on Aug. 2, 1955, and given the name Marie Duchesne. She professed first vows on Aug. 3, 1956, and final vows on Aug. 3, 1962.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1959 and a master’s degree in English education from Saint Louis University in 1968.
Sister Lucy ministered in Catholic education for 38 years. She taught at St. Philip, East St. Louis, Illinois (1957-61); and Notre Dame High School, Burlington, Iowa (1961-66). In Missouri, she taught at St. Francis de Sales High School (1966-67); Rosary High School (1967-76); and John F. Kennedy High School (1979-95), all within the St. Louis area, and was principal at St. Francis Borgia High School (1976-79) in Washington.
For several summers during the 1980s, she worked at Camp Ondessonk, a ministry of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. She also spent a summer teaching English to high school girls in El Progreso, Honduras. However, her preference was teaching in coeducational schools. In the high schools, she was also involved in extracurricular activities including campus ministry, the track team and the school newspaper.
In 1995, Sister Lucy became the switchboard receptionist and worked in human resources at Mary Queen and Mother Center in Shrewsbury for three years and then ministered as the human resources assistant for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services for the next 23 years. In 2021, she offered her time in volunteer service at various places in the St. Louis area.
Sister Lucy retired at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in Shrewsbury in June 2024. As her health failed, she was admitted to Elizabeth House-The Sarah Community in August 2025 and then transferred to Anna House in September. She entered hospice care in early December.
Sister Lucy is survived by her sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, School Sisters of Notre Dame in community and SSND associates. Preceding her in death were her parents, Elizabeth and John Vehige; her sisters, Sister Liguori, SSND, Sister Grace Marie, SSM, and Viola Vogt; and her brothers, Joseph, Barney, Leo and Andrew. She would have celebrated her 70th Jubilee of religious profession in 2026.
Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa Cemetery.
