Sister Assunta Highbaugh, 99, Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand
Sister Assunta Highbaugh, 99, Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, died at 12:25 a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2016, at the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center.
Sister Assunta was born September 17, 1916, in Alexandria, Indiana, the second of two children of Harvey and Nellie (Wood) Highbaugh. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1931 and made her profession of monastic vows in 1933. She celebrated the 80th anniversary of her monastic profession in 2013.
She is survived by nieces, nephews, and members of her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Harvey, and stepsisters Lorraine (Prieshoff) Leffler, Kathleen (Prieshoff) Doyle, Lucille (Prieshoff) Dugan, and Peggy (Prieshoff) Hagelskamp.
Sister Assunta taught at St. Paul School in Tell City, St. Ambrose School in Seymour, and St. Benedict School and St. Joseph School, both in Evansville. She was principal at Christ the King School and St. Pius X School, both in Indianapolis.
She served as dean and president of St. Benedict College in Ferdinand and as a student teacher supervisor at College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She was a founding member of Holy Spirit Monastery in Grand Terrace, California. In California, she served as principal at St. Mel School in Norco, and at St. Mary School in Apple Valley; as a teacher in Rancho Jurupa, and at Our Lady of Guadalupe; and as assistant principal at Notre Dame High School in Riverside, and at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino.
She served in parish ministry at St. Simon and St. Jude Parish in Huntington Beach, and at St. Catherine Parish in Laguna Beach. She served as prioress and ministered to the sick at Holy Spirit Monastery. After returning to Ferdinand, she worked in supportive services at the monastery. She most recently served in the ministry of prayer.
Visitation will be at the monastery on Sunday, July 17, from 3:00 to 6:45 p.m. EDT and on Monday, July 18, from 2:00 to 4:15 p.m. A wake service will be held on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 4:30 p.m. in the monastery church followed by burial in the monastery cemetery.
Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.
