Sister Mary Michael Koebele, SSND, died on Monday, July 5, 2010, at Anna House, The Sarah Community, in Bridgeton, Mo., from congestive heart failure. She was 91 and a former elementary teacher and high school home economics teacher. On May 23, 2010, she celebrated her 70th Jubilee as a School Sister of Notre Dame.
Sister Mary Michael donated her body to St. Louis University School of Medicine. A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 17, in the School Sisters of Notre Dame Motherhouse Chapel, 320 E. Ripa Ave., in south St. Louis County.
Sister Mary Michael was born in Island Grove, IL, to Michael and Mary (Will) Koebele. She entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1936 from St. Joseph Parish in Island Grove. She professed first vows in 1940 and final vows in 1946. She earned a bachelor's in history from the former Le Clerc College, in Belleville, IL, in 1949 and a master's in home economics education from St. Louis University in 1960.
Sister Mary Michael began her teaching career at St. Francis Borgia in Washington, Mo., where she taught from 1938-39. She served as teacher at St. Mary, Belleville, IL, from 1940-44; Sacred Heart, Effingham, IL, 1944-47; St. Mary, Alton, IL, 1947-48; St. Wenceslaus, St. Louis, 1948-49; Notre Dame High School, St. Louis, 1949-50; St. Peter High School, St. Charles, MO, 1950-59; and St. Mary of the Pines, Chatawa, Mississippi, 1959-65.
After 25 years in the classroom, Sister Mary Michael began 39 years of community service. She assisted in the novitiate for four years and was the chaplain's housekeeper in the motherhouse for one year. For the next 28 years, she served at Villa Gesu, the former retirement center for the sisters, in a variety of capacities in the refectory, diet kitchen and yard work, and as driver, sacristan, switchboard operator, ward clerk, chaplain's housekeeper, etc. The spiritual opportunities as well as the life and death of many of the sisters were tremendous graces for her.
After several years of community service at the motherhouse, Sister Mary Michael began a ministry of prayer and presence at The Sarah Community in 2005.
Sister Mary Michael was a peaceful, gentle and kind person. Her dependability was evident in the various responsibilities she was given. Prayerful and self-sacrificing, she lovingly cared for the aged and sick sisters.
Sister Mary Michael had no immediate survivors. There are extended family members living in the Teutopolis area.
Memorial contributions may be made to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Resource Development, 320 E. Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63125-2897.
Bridgeton, Mo. —
