A funeral Mass for Sister Mary Harper, CPPS, was celebrated Feb. 11 in St. Joseph’s Chapel in O’Fallon. Sister Mary, a Sister of the Most Precious Blood of O’Fallon, died Feb. 4 at the age of 86.
Mary Harper was born in St. Louis on July 26, 1938, the oldest of two children of Ora and Helen (Berns) Harper. She was baptized at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and attended elementary school there. During her high school years at St. Elizabeth Academy, she met the Precious Blood Sisters.
She was received into the novitiate of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood on July 25, 1957, and professed first vows on Aug. 10, 1959. She received the name Sister Robert Ann, which she continued to use until recent years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Fontbonne College. She completed additional coursework in administration at several colleges.
Sister Mary was a dedicated, super-organized and much-loved teacher and principal. She taught at Sacred Heart in Florissant. She was both a teacher and a principal at St. Stephen Protomartyr in St. Louis and at Assumption in O’Fallon. She served as principal at St. Paul in Fenton, St. George in St. Louis, St. Monica in Creve Coeur and St. Sabina in Florissant.
After retiring from education, Sister Mary continued to share her talents in various ways. She served as a driver and local coordinator for the retirement community at the motherhouse. She ministered as manager of the St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care Center in Maplewood and as coordinator of the Sisters of Mercy retirement home. She reached out to those in need at The Care Service at Sts. Joachim and Ann. Sister Mary poured love into each of her ministries, and her love for family was also strong and sure.
Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents and by her brother, Robert. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Donna; her nephews, Robert and Tim (Gina) Harper; and by her nieces, Melissa (Bill) Murphy and Christa (Brent) Batliner and their families.
