Obituaries

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 8 at Assumption Church in O'Fallon for Deacon Howard J. VanBooven, who served at the O'Fallon parish and in hospice chaplaincy.

Deacon VanBooven, 71, died May 3. Born in Rhineland, Mo., he married the former Susan C. Black in 1964. He served his country in the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 11 at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in Shrewsbury for Sister Sophia Majewski, a retired educator.

Sister Sophia, 96, died May 8.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1930, made first vows in 1933 and finals vows in 1936. She received a bachelor's degree from St. Louis University and a master's degree from Creighton University in Omaha.

LYON, France -- Oblate Father Pierre Babin, who pioneered the use of new forms of media in communicating tenets of the Catholic faith especially to young audiences, died May 9. He was 87.

The French priest established a reputation as an innovator in the use of various communications forms, particularly group media, and was an expert in educational psychology, a writer and an essayist.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 12 for Sister Shirley Kemper, SSND, in the School Sisters of Notre Dame Theresa Center chapel in south St. Louis County.

Sister Shirley (formerly known as Sister Assunta) died May 9 at Anna House at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, from coronary artery disease. She was 87 and a former teacher, coordinator for religious education and caregiver for the elderly.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 8 at Assumption Church in O’Fallon for Deacon Howard J. VanBooven, who served at the O’Fallon parish and in hospice chaplaincy.

Deacon VanBooven, 71, died May 3. Born in Rhineland, Mo., he married the former Susan C. Black in 1964. He served his country in the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 9 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in south St. Louis for Deacon Edward J. Auer, a longtime educator at St. Francis de Sales and St. John the Baptist high schools.

Deacon Auer, 89, died May 5. Born in St. Louis, he served his country in the U.S. Marines from 1943-46 and received an honorable discharge. He received a degree in education from St. Louis University.