Sister Nancy Marie

Sister Nancy Marie                            ND 4691                                PDF Download

formerly Sister Virginia Rose

Nancy Jo Schutte

Immaculate Heart of Mary Province, Covington, Kentucky, USA

Date and Place of Birth                   March 26, 1938        Cincinnati, OH
Date and Place of Profession         August 16, 1958        Covington, KY
Date and Place of Death                 June 8, 2018             Covington, KY
Date and Place of Burial                 June 14, 2018           Covington, KY

Nancy Jo was the oldest of three children; a twin sister lived less than a day. Her childhood was challenging due to a severe hip infection at age 7, resulting in a lifetime of difficulties with her hips and legs; and the loss of her mother at age 8. Her grandmother helped to raise her until her father remarried.

She was inspired by her Catholic education when she attended Saint Martin School. After graduating from St. Xavier Commercial High School and working for a year, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame on September 8, 1955, and made her profession of vows on August 16, 1958.

Sister Nancy Marie served in Lourdes Hall Care Center and in the business offices at St. Claire Regional Medical Center and Notre Dame Academy. She also assisted the children and staff at St. Aloysius Orphanage and the Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home. Sister further gave of herself in various capacities at the Provincial Center, where she shared her artistic gifts in the form of photography and exquisite handmade items.

After many years of service, Sister Nancy Marie retired to Lourdes Hall Care Center in 2014 due to her increasing arthritic condition. She took pleasure in the little things of daily life. Her kindness and warm smile revealed a deep goodness of heart.

Sister was an avid reader, particularly of mystery stories. Friends often saw her engrossed in a book. Even though largely confined to her room in her final years, Sr. Nancy Marie traveled through time and around the globe by way of books and especially through DVDs. Often when her profession group gathered for an ice cream party, she would relate tales of ancient Egypt or details of some natural wonder or new scientific discovery. She had very broad interests. Sister Nancy Marie also had an outstanding love of animals. From time to time various animals were brought to Lourdes Hall for a visit. With these four-legged friends, she brightened up, no matter how bad her pain, and gladly received lots of wet canine kisses.

Sister was blessed with six decades of professed religious life and was planning to participate in the public celebration of her diamond jubilee on June 3. An accident as she was returning home from the jubilee practice occasioned a serious injury and several days of excruciating pain. On being told that the amount of pain medication she needed would probably hasten her death, her response was ”That’s okay, I’m ready to be with the Lord, and I think he’s ready for me,” and she smiled.

On Friday, June 8, 2018, Sister Nancy Marie went home to God very peacefully, surrounded by her loving sisters. She was preceded in death by her parents, her twin sister, and her brother, William Schutte. She leaves behind her beloved nephews, Ken and Mike Schutte, and several close cousins.

Sister Nancy Marie’s funeral liturgy was on June 13 in the provincial house chapel, with burial the following day in the convent cemetery. She will be remembered for her soft voice and kind smile. May she rest in peace.