The funeral Mass for Sister M. Antonice Backes, SSND, was celebrated July 11 at Theresa Center in St. Louis. Sister Antonice died July 8 at Anna House of The Sarah Community in Bridgeton. She was 100, and a former educator and volunteer.
Born in Loose Creek, Mo., she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1941 and professed first vows in 1948. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Webster College in 1954 and a master’s in elementary education from Saint Louis University.
Sister Antonice taught elementary students for 51 years. In Missouri, she taught at St. Charles Borromeo and St. Peter in St. Charles; St. Boniface in Koeltztown; Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Louis; and St. George in Hermann. She also taught in Iowa and Illinois. In addition, she did secretarial work at Our Lady of Sorrows in St. Louis for five years, and she tutored at the Notre Dame Tutorial/Learning Center and volunteered at the Notre Dame Preschool for a total of seven years. She also volunteered at St. Augustine Wellston Center in Wellston.
After 67 years in education, she retired to Veronica House in September 2009 but continued volunteering. She started many plants for sale at the Sarah Community craft fair, sang in the choir when she lived at Theresa Center and crocheted mats from plastic bags for the homeless.
Sister Antonice is survived by a sister, Ann Williams of Bonnots Mill, Mo., and a brother, Raymond Backes of Altadena, Calif.
