Sister Mary Martha

Sister Mary Martha              ND 4679              PDF Download

Martha Jane Beiting

Formerly Sister Mary Ralphe

Immaculate Conception Province, USA

Date and Place of Birth               August 3, 1934                Cold Spring, KY
Date and Place of Profession     August 17, 1957               Covington, KY
Date and Place of Death             February 19, 2022          Covington, KY
Date and Place of Burial             February 24, 2022          Covington, KY

Sister Mary Martha (formerly known as Sister M. Ralphe) was born into the loving family of Ralph and Martha Beiting.  She was the eighth of eleven children. Martha attended grade school at St. Joseph School, Cold Spring, Kentucky, and graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame Providence, Newport, Kentucky. After working for a year at Western and Southern, she realized that God was calling her to follow him as a Sister of Notre Dame, and she entered the community in August 1954.

Sister studied Child Care Education at Thomas More University, Xavier University, and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She taught elementary grades in the Covington Diocese for a few years before ministering for more than thirty years at St. Aloysius Orphanage, Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home, Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. She gave guidance and care to many children throughout the years, nurturing them with stability and love when it was needed the most. Sister Martha also provided some years of service in housekeeping at Notre Dame Academy, St. Claire Medical Center, and St. Joseph Heights.

As Sister Mary Martha transitioned to retirement, her ministry focused on her community. She served in many facets of community life. She delighted in creating holiday decorations and making delicious candy and cookies. Working in transportation, she accompanied sisters to their doctors’ appointments. She also led the craft program at St. Joseph Heights and assisted with activities. As her health became more fragile, she welcomed visitors to sit and socialize about the daily events, always making one leave with a smile. Being confined to bed did not stop her kind and generous spirit. She often filled baggies with a variety of candies and would summon different employees and sisters to give them a “present”. She had bags and bags of candy. Her blue eyes would dance with happiness as she distributed her gifts. We are truly thankful for the many talents and gifts Sister Mary Martha shared with all of us. She will be dearly missed.

Sister Mary Martha went home to God peacefully on February 19, 2022. May she now be embraced by the limitless love of our good and gracious God.