Sr. Helen (Mary Ethel) Kiefer, ASC, 90, of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, passed away at 3:50 pm, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, Illinois.
She was born to the late Theodore and Bernadine (nee Eftink) Kiefer on March 29, 1932 in Oran, Missouri. She was one of eight children.
Sr. Helen made her first vows on July 1, 1949, and final vows on July 1, 1954. She had been professed for 73 years.
Sr. Helen held a Certificate in Childcare from St. Louis University; a bachelor’s degree in Education from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas.; a master’s in Elementary Education and a Certificate in Pastoral Care both from Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; teaching certificates for the states of Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. Her ministries included Child Care and Teaching.
Sr. Helen worked in Child Care for 15 years at Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, Illinois, and briefly at the Childgarden School in St. Louis. Her ministry as a teacher was spent in the Illinois schools of Holy Family in Cahokia, St. Clare in O’Fallon, St. Ann in Nashville and St. Mary in Belleville. In Missouri she served at Guardian Angel in Oran, Visitation in Vienna and Christ the King in University City.
In St. Louis she served as Assistant Manager of Rosary House and as Activities Assistant in St. Elizabeth Hall, under the Office of Catholic Charities.
Her elementary teaching was mostly with middle grades. Even after she left the classroom, she took her classroom with her as a tutor. One of her primary places of ministry as a tutor was SSM Cardinal Glennon Medical Center in St. Louis. At age 80, Sister Helen was invited by this Center’s sponsor to help youngsters who are receiving various treatments at the hospital to keep up with their studies. In her words: “These kids make me feel so happy and so proud to take care of them. They give me hope because they don’t feel sorry for themselves.”
Preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers Theodore, Jr. and Paul, her five sisters Adele (Buford) Trost, Ethel (Bill) Massmann, Rita (Urban) Hinkebein, Sister Mary Jane Kiefer, OSF, and Mary Emma Kiefer.
She is survived by nieces, nephews and members of the ASC Community.
Masks are required for all residents and visitors at the Benedictine Living Community
Visitation:
Monday – 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Prayer of Welcome and Sharing of Memories at 1:00 pm
Benedictine Living Community Chapel at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
Funeral Mass:
2:00 pm, Monday, July 18, 2022
Benedictine Living Community Chapel at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
726 Community Drive, Belleville, Illinois
Interment:
Convent Cemetery
Ruma, Illinois
Donation in memory of Sr. Helen Kiefer may be sent to the ASC Retirement Fund, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109 or online at www.adorers.org “Support our Ministries”