The funeral Mass for Sister Mary Irene Cecil was celebrated Dec. 28 at Mount Saint Joseph in Maple Mount, Ky. Sister Mary Irene, 91, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Dec. 22 at Mount Saint Joseph in her 72nd year of religious life.
The native of West Louisville, Ky., was an educator for 28 years in Kentucky and Missouri. She taught at Good Shepherd School in Hillsboro from 1959-61 and Seven Holy Founders School in Affton from 1965-69. Sister Mary Irene then served as a supervisor in the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Catholic Schools. She was major superior of the Ursuline Sisters from 1980-88 and a Leadership Council member from 1974-80. From 1989-95, she served as coordinator of staff, director of lay ministry, and director of adult formation for the Diocese of Owensboro.
Sister Mary Irene later was director of postulants for her community and minister to the sick at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Owensboro, Ky. She was co-director of pastoral care at the motherhouse and daily annalist for the community. From 2009-18, she was a seamstress for the senior sisters at the motherhouse.
Survivors include her brother, Tom Cecil, of Owensboro.
