Sister Mary Ann Mueller, ASC, died Dec. 7 at the Ruma Center, in Ruma, Illinois. She was 93 years old and had been a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 76 years.
She was one of nine children and grew up in Bartelso, Illinois. Sister Mary Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Sacred Heart College, now Newman University, and an Illinois teaching certificate.
She taught elementary school for 20 years; was a housemother for orphans at the Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, Illinois, for 11 and an administrator for five; and in later years, worked with senior citizens in St. Louis.
She taught at Immaculate Conception in Centerville, at St. Mary in Taylorville, St. Matthew in Alton and Albers Elementary in Albers, all in Illinois. She provided dietary service at St. Clare in O’Fallon, Illinois, Guardian Angel in Oran, Missouri, and St. Clement (now Red Bud Regional) Hospital in Red Bud, Illinois.
She directed the Adorers’ De Mattias Hall, a House of Studies on the Saint Louis University campus for Adorers and other sisters attending the university.
She also was assistant manager at Manresa House in Florissant, and Rosary House Resident Center in St. Louis.
She was receptionist and secretary at Mother of Perpetual Help residence in St. Louis for 16 years. She later worked for Cardinal Ritter Senior Services at Mary, Queen and Mother Center in St. Louis for several years before retiring to the Ruma Center.
Sister Mary Ann loved to play cards, especially pinochle; listen to music; and go to lunch or dinner with family and friends. Her former students loved her and often invited her to class reunions.
A vigil for Sister Mary Ann, with attendance limited to the sisters at the Ruma Center, was to have been held Dec. 18, followed by burial in the Ruma Center cemetery. A memorial Mass will be celebrated with sisters, family and friends at a later date.
