A funeral Mass for Sister M. Christine (Barbara) Crowder was to be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, in the chapel of St. Francis Convent in Alton, Illinois. Visitation was to be from 3-7:30 p.m. Friday, June 6, in the convent chapel. Sister M. Christine died June 2. She was 80.
Sister M. Christine was born on May 10, 1945, and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George on July 16, 1963. She began the novitiate on March 19, 1964, and made her first profession of vows on March 19, 1966. She made her final profession on Oct. 7, 1971.
Sister M. Christine studied nursing at St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing and Saint Louis University and obtained her master’s in spirituality at the Notre Dame Institute in Arlington, Virginia. She worked in health care at St. Anthony’s Hospital (now OSF-St. Anthony’s Health Center) in Alton from 1966-74, 1976-81, 1984-89 and 2020 to the present. She served at Mother of Good Counsel Home in St. Louis as the director of nursing and then administrator from 1989-96 and 2014-20. From 1981-2020, she served her religious congregation in a variety of offices as postulant director, junior director, local superior, provincial councilor and provincial vicaress.
Sister M. Christine was faithful and joyful in prayer and in carrying out the tasks entrusted to her. She was entirely devoted to her religious community, her family and those she served. Those who knew her were blessed by her attunement to the promptings of the Holy Spirit whom she relied on to guide her at every moment.
Sister M. Christine was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Lucille (Herzog) Crowder. She is survived by her religious community; her sister, Carolyn (William) Duke; brother, Frank (Mary) Crowder; and extended family.
