Sister Kathleen Mary Maloney F.S.M.

Sister Kathleen Mary Maloney F.S.M., baptized into the hope of Christ’s Resurrection Monday, August 9, 2021.

Mary Adelaide Maloney was born September 30, 1931, in St. Mary, Missouri, 4th of 12 children born to Clarence L. and Mary Adelaide (Bartels) Maloney.

Beloved sister of Charles Maloney of St. Louis, MO, Rose Margaret Carroll of Austin, TX, Patricia Ann Spahn of Kansas City, MO, James Maloney, and Joan Marie (Francis) Welker of Perryville, MO, Paul (Shirley) Maloney of Manchester, MO, Jerry (Jeannette) Maloney of St. Louis, MO, sister-in-laws, Jewell Maloney of Ste. Genevieve, MO and Jackie Maloney of Ballwin, MO. Our dear aunt, great-aunt, great-great-aunt, friend, and Sister in Religious Life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Thomas, Michael, and Joseph Maloney; one sister, Mary Agnes Otte, one sister-in-law, Elaine Maloney, and three brother-in-laws, August “Ab” Otte, Joseph Spahn, and Bill Carroll, two nephews, Stephen Otte and Billy Joe Carroll.

After two summers as a nurses’ aide at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, she entered the Sisters of St. Mary in 1949.

She received the name Sr. Kathleen Mary, and she professed final vows in 1955.

Sr. Kathleen Mary earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing through Saint Louis University (1956); certification in respiratory therapy through the University of Chicago Hospital and Clinic (1971); and certification in gerontology through St. Mary of the Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana (1984).

Sr. Kathleen Mary served as a supervisor at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center from 1956-61. She supervised central supply at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles (1961-68). She set up a respiratory therapy department at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, Wisconsin (1969-70) and served in respiratory therapy at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles as well (1970-72). She cared for her mother (1968-69, 1970-71) and for her father (1972).

She provided home health nursing for Cardinal Ritter Institute in St. Louis from 1973-84, enjoying the work immensely. From 1985-91, she served as general assistant at St. Mary of the Angels Convent (the sisters’ motherhouse), driving sisters, handling the switchboard and lobby, and coordinating health care decisions. She also volunteered at Doorways, a residential program for people with AIDS, played the piano at SSM Rehabilitation Institute during the patients’ dinner, and volunteered at Our Little Haven, a residence to care for infants and children younger than school-age.

She moved to Conway Manor, a Dolan Home residence in Creve Coeur, in July 2011, and moved to The Sarah Community in September 2017. In October 2019, Sister Kathleen Mary celebrated her 70th Jubilee in the Convent. 

Sr. Kathleen Mary dedicated her life to serving the Lord and others. She dearly loved her family. She enjoyed stamp collecting, music, playing the piano, and caring for others, especially little children. She was a very talented, gifted writer. Sister Kathleen Mary always had a beautiful smile and made the world a better place. Her family is forever grateful for her presence in their lives. We are better people for knowing her. 

A Mass of Farewell will be held in the chapel at The Sarah Community, on the campus of SSM DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, at a future date. A private burial will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in St. Louis.