A funeral Mass for Sister Catherine Durr was celebrated June 1 at Nazareth Living Center Chapel in south St. Louis County. Sister Catherine died May 22 at Nazareth Living Center. She was 91 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 64 years.
Sister Catherine was born on July 24, 1929, in Nebraska City, Nebraska, to Albert Matthew and Louise (Tordoff) Durr. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on Sept. 15, 1956, was received as Sister Anita Louise and made her final profession on Aug. 6, 1964.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Creighton University in 1953 and a master’s in hospital administration from Saint Louis University in 1964.
Sister Catherine’s ministry began as a medical technologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. After a year of study at Saint Louis University, she was a resident in health care administration at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio.
Sister Catherine dedicated the next 25 years of service to St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood. She first served as hospital administrator (1964-78) and then as hospital president (1978-89).
After a brief retirement in the early 1990s, she became the assistant to the director of development for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province. From 1993-97, Sister Catherine served as the assistant to the president of Carondelet Health System.
She twice served as the interim president for St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, first in 1992 and again in 2002.
In addition, from 1997 to 2003, Sister Catherine was the coordinator of ongoing education for sponsorship with the Sisters of St Joseph. And from 2003 to 2015, she served in volunteer ministry and on various boards.
Since 2015, she resided at Nazareth Living Center, where she carried out her ministry of prayer and presence until her passing.
Sister Catherine was also recognized for her work. In 1979, she received the Woman of Achievement Award for Health Care from the St. Louis Globe Democrat. In 1989, the Mayor of Kirkwood proclaimed Aug. 17 as Sister Catherine Durr Day.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
