obituaries

A funeral Mass was celebrated March 9 at Nazareth Living Center Chapel in Oakville for Sister Mariann (Anna Henry) DeBuck, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet who served many years as a teacher and school administrator.

Sister Mariann, 77, died of cancer March 4 at Nazareth.

Born in St. Louis, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1951 and made her final profession in 1959. She earned a bachelor's degree in business education from Fontbonne College in 1961 and a master's degree in business education from Catholic University of America in 1967.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 18 for Sister Julia Becker at the Ursuline Convent in Alton, Ill. Sister Julia (formerly known as Sister Mary John) was a longtime educator in the St. Louis area.

Sister Julia, 95, died Feb. 12 at the Ursuline Queen of Peace health care community in Alton.

Born in Maxville, Mo., Sister Julia attended Ursuline Academy in Kirkwood. She entered the Ursuline Sisters in 1933 and made her first vows in 1936.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 13 for Sister Grace Jokerst at the Ursuline Convent in Alton, Ill. She taught 21 years in grade schools and high schools in the St. Louis Archdiocese.

Sister Grace, 95, died Feb. 9 at the Ursuline Queen of Peace health care community in Alton.

A funeral Mass was celebrated March 1 at St. Mary of the Angels Convent chapel in Richmond Heights for Sister Mary Carmelita Hovenkotter, who for more than a decade served on the leadership council of the Sisters of St. Francis of Maryville, Mo., and was instrumental in bringing about the 1987 reunification with the Sisters of St. Mary as the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.

Sister Mary Carmelita, 92, died Feb. 25 at St. Mary of the Angels Convent.

CANBERRA, Australia (CNS) -- Rosemary Goldie, the first woman to hold a position of authority at the Vatican, died Feb. 27 in Randwick. She was 94.

Once described as "the Roman Curia's human microchip memory on the development of the lay apostolate," Goldie made Church history with her 1966 appointment as undersecretary of the Council for the Laity.

She held the position for 10 years, working to promote the role of laypeople in Church life. She left the Vatican in 1976 when Church officials upgraded the council's status to that of a pontifical council.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 13 for Sister Mary Ellen Creedon at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Chicago.

Sister Mary Ellen, a Daughter of Charity who served in medical ministry, died Feb. 8 at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago at age 78.