A memorial Mass for Sister Anthony Marie Kasper, SSND, was celebrated March 7 at Theresa Center chapel at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis. Sister Anthony Marie died at De Paul Hospital in Bridgeton on Feb. 17 at the age of 96.
The only child of Marie (Vanek) and Anthony Kasper, she was born at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Louis Nov. 4, 1928. She was baptized at St. Wenceslaus Church in St. Louis on Nov. 18, 1928, and named Dolores Ann. Dolores attended St. Wenceslaus School, where she met the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She enrolled at Rosati-Kain High School, which was also staffed by the sisters. She was awarded a four-year scholarship to LeClerc College in Belleville, Illinois, based on her scholastic standing. The college was also staffed by the sisters. She signed up for courses and reserved a dorm room at the college. However, she was not at ease with this decision. After a vacation trip with her parents, she realized that her calling was to enter the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
Dolores entered the candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa on Aug. 28, 1946. During her second year of candidature, she taught third grade at St. Gabriel School in St. Louis. She was received into the novitiate on Aug. 2, 1948, and given the name Anthony Marie in honor of her father. She professed first vows on Aug. 3, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 3, 1955. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1957 and a master’s degree in elementary education from Saint Louis University in 1963.
Sister Anthony Marie ministered for 56 years in elementary education. Following profession, she taught at St. Joseph in East St. Louis, Illinois (1949-50); Sacred Heart in Du Quoin, Illinois (1950-53); St. Peter in St. Charles (1953-61); St. Luke in Belleville (1961-67); St. Anthony in Sullivan (1967-73); St. Francis Borgia in Washington (1973-82); and St. Stephen in Caseyville, Illinois (1982-84). She was also principal at St. Anthony.
As her parents’ health was declining, she requested an assignment closer to them. In 1984, she began her 20-year teaching career at Our Lady of Sorrows in St. Louis. In the late 1980s, she taught part time and cared for her parents. Her parents passed away within seven months of each other in 1988. She then returned to full-time teaching.
She retired from teaching in 2004 but continued to minister in Our Lady of Sorrows parish by visiting parishioners in 15 different nursing homes. She was a lector, eucharistic minister and was active in the Legion of Mary at the parish. In 2012, she moved to Sancta Maria in Ripa and continued as a parish visitor at Our Lady of Sorrows.
As her health declined, she was missioned to The Sarah Community-Veronica House in Bridgeton in 2020. In 2024, she celebrated 75 years of religious profession. She was a participant in the RUSH University Religious Orders Study.
Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa Cemetery.
