Sister Mary Esther Steckler, 93

Sister Mary Esther Steckler, 93, of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, died at 1:55 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center.

A native of St. James in Gibson County, Indiana, Sister Mary Esther was born January 23, 1921, the fifth of seventeen children born to Henry and Josephine (Angermeier) Steckler. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1936 and made her profession of monastic vows in 1938.

She is survived by six sisters, Joan Martin, of Newburgh; Kathy Ising and husband Phil and Patricia Jackson and husband Robert, of Evansville; Betty Jo Lefler, of Francisco, Indiana; Margaret Ramsey, of San Antonio, Texas; Mary Sieb and husband Edmund, of Huntingburg; four brothers, Harold and wife Delores and Donald and wife Betty Ann, of Evansville; Gilbert and Joseph and wife Aileen, of Ferdinand; nieces and nephews; and members of her religious community. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Irma Bender, Esther Gries, and Viola Scheller; and three brothers; Edward, Oscar, and Louis.

Sister Mary Esther served in education for 50 years. She was a teacher in Vincennes, at St. Benedict and Mater Dei schools in Evansville, and at Chatard High School in Indianapolis, and also served as principal at Mater Dei High School in Evansville and at Academy Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. In 1968 she was sent to minister in California, where she served in schools as a teacher, principal, guidance counselor, and librarian, and at Holy Spirit Monastery as director of formation, treasurer, and prioress. In 2012, she transferred from Holy Spirit Monastery in Grand Terrace, California, back to Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand. She was in monastery supportive services and most recently served in the ministry of prayer.

Visitation will be at the monastery on Friday, July 11, from 2-7:15 p.m. EST and on Saturday, July 12, 9-9:45 a.m. EST. A wake service will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. EST. The funeral Mass will be on Saturday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT in the monastery church. Burial will follow at a later date.

Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.