Sister Mary Kenneth Scheessele, 91

Sister Mary Kenneth Scheessele, 91, of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, died at 10:47 a.m. on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center.

A native of Spencer County, Indiana, Sister Mary Kenneth was born December 5, 1922, the seventh of nine children born to John George and Ida (Griesbaum) Scheessele. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1940 and made her profession of monastic vows in 1942.

She is survived by two sisters, Eleanora Lathery of Red Brush, Indiana, and Sister Mary Clare Scheessele of Ferdinand; one brother, Kenneth, and wife, Joan, of Newburgh; nieces and nephews; and members of her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents; five sisters, Beatrice Scheessele, Esther Browning, Coletta Scheessele, Dorothy Lindauer, and Sister Jovita Scheessele, OSB.

Sister Mary Kenneth was a teacher at Tell City, Ferdinand Elementary, St. Anthony, and Christ the King School in Evansville.  She was a teacher and librarian at Mater Dei High School in Evansville and Academy Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. She also served as librarian at the monastery, St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ferdinand High School, and at schools in Holland, Indiana. She was the monastery archivist and most recently served in prayer ministry.

Visitation will be at the monastery on Friday, October 31, from 3 – 7 p.m. EDT and on Saturday, November 1, from 10 – 10:30 a.m. EDT.  A wake service will be Friday at 7:15 p.m. EDT. The funeral Mass will be on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. EDT in the monastery church. Burial will be at a later date.

Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.