A funeral Mass for Sister Michaela Zahner, CSJ, was celebrated Feb. 14 at Nazareth Living Center Chapel. Sister Michaela died Jan. 31 at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. She was 80 years old.
Sister Michaela was born on Dec. 7, 1941, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Victor Henry and Lorene Agnes (Soden) Zahner. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1958 and was received into the novitiate as Sister Anne Victor in 1959. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1963 and a master’s degree in history from the University of Chicago in 1969.
Sister Michaela served nearly 40 years in education. She began teaching elementary school in Denver, Colorado, at St. Francis de Sales (1963-1965). She then taught at St. Patrick School in University City until 1968. Sister Michaela began teaching secondary education at St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City and in 1978 added the duties of assistant principal. In 1984, Sister Michaela taught at both Avila and Rockhurst colleges (now universities). She then served the next 10 years as an associate dean at Rockhurst College.
Sister Michaela continued her higher education work in St. Louis as the director of organizational support and grants at Fontbonne University from 1997-2004. The following seven years, she served as president of St. Joseph’s Academy. After a brief retirement, she returned to St. Joseph’s Academy, serving as a special project consultant from 2012-2015.
Sister Michaela retired in 2015 to Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, continuing her ministry of prayer and presence.
Burial was at Resurrection Cemetery.
