March 6, 1930 – February 8, 2025
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Patricia Ann “Paddy” Lorenz, who passed away on February 8, 2025, at Mercy South Emergency Room in St. Louis. She was 94 years of age.
Sister Patricia Lorenz was born on March 6, 1930, in St. Louis to parents Harold Cecil and Aldora (Buchner) Lorenz. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1950 and was received into the novitiate in 1951 as Sister Mary Saint Paul. She earned a Bachelor of Science in radiologic technology from Saint Louis University in 1957, a Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology from the University of Kansas in 1969, and an Associate in Applied Science in health information technology from Metropolitan Community College, Penn Valley in 1991.
After a year of teaching grade school at St. Thomas of Aquin in St. Louis, Sister Patricia served as a radiologic technologist at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City. She was a radiology student at St. Louis University from 1955 to 1957. Upon completion, she then served at St. Joseph Community Hospital in Hancock, Michigan, as the x-ray supervisor and instructor of basic science. From 1960 to 1964, she was an instructor and supervisor of the radiology department at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City. While working on her doctorate, Sister Patricia taught part-time at Avila College (now University) in Kansas City from 1967 to 1971.
For the next 38 years, Sister Patricia taught at Metropolitan Community College, Penn Valley. In addition to teaching, she served as the chair of the biology department (1978-1980) and as the chairperson of Life Sciences (1986-2000). She was then a biology adjunct instructor until her retirement in 2009.
Sister Patricia also served her Sisters of St. Joseph community as a provincial councilor from 1992 to 1996. In addition, she served over 35 years on the boards of St. Joseph Medical Center and Carondelet Health in Kansas City.
During her retirement, Sister Patricia continued to volunteer and serve on the board of Heartland Center for Behavioral Change in Kansas City. Since 2022, she resided at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, where she continued her ministry of prayer and presence.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Nazareth Living Center Chapel, 2 Nazareth Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129. Watch the Memorial Mass via livestream.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899 or donate online.
J rest in peace, sister, Pat