Sister Mary Charlotte Kavanaugh, 98

Sister Mary Charlotte Kavanaugh, 98, of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, died at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, August 29, 2014, in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center.

A native of Cannelburg, Indiana, Sister Mary Charlotte was born March 16, 1916, the tenth of eleven children born to John and Mary (O’Connor) Kavanaugh. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1934 and made her profession of monastic vows in 1936.

She is survived by one sister, Rose Kavanaugh, of Beech Grove, Indiana; nieces and nephews; and members of her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Catherine and Sister Bernice; and seven brothers, Frank, Timothy, Vincent, Harry, Bernard, Louis, and Albert.

In 1937, Sister Mary Charlotte began her 63-year career in areas of education, including religious education and administration. She taught and supervised student teachers at St. Benedict College in Ferdinand and also taught at St. Ferdinand Grade School, St. Benedict in Evansville, and St. Mary’s in Washington, Indiana. She served as a consultant and supervisor for schools in the Evansville Diocese and was editor of Mine, a national religious education magazine. From 1972 to 1995, she served as director and teacher of religious education at the U.S. Army base in Fort Rucker, Alabama. She also was director of religious education at parishes in Siberia, Ferdinand, and Schnellville. She served in the ministry of prayer since 2003.

Visitation will be at the monastery on Monday, September 1, from 2 – 6:45 p.m. EST and on Tuesday, September 2, from 2 – 4:15 p.m. EST. A wake service will be Monday at 7 p.m. EDT. The funeral Mass will be on Tuesday, September 2, at 4:30 p.m. EDT 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.