March 17, 1937 – November 4, 2024
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Rita Louise Huebner, who passed away on November 4, 2024, at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis. She was 87 years of age.
Sister Rita Louise, baptized Harriet Patrica, was born in Indianapolis on March 17, 1937, to parents Harry and Matilda (Gamstetter) Huebner. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1955 and was received into the novitiate in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Fontbonne College (now Fontbonne University) in St. Louis in 1960 and a master’s degree in English from Washington University in St. Louis in 1969.
In her 68 years as a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Rita Louise served in several ministries, with much of her work focused on supporting our member institutions and community.
In the 1960s, Sister Rita Louise taught at St. Mary Cathedral Grade School in Peoria, Illinois; St. Pius X High School in Atlanta, Georgia; Hannibal Catholic High School in Hannibal, Missouri; and Roncalli High School in Indianapolis.
She taught at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis from 1973 to 1983, followed by three years as a teacher and librarian at St. Louis Cathedral Grade School.
In the late 1980s, she was the director of applicants and associates for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province. She also taught at Corpus Christi School Grade School in St. Louis for one year. In the early 1990s, she served as an office manager and reference librarian at Fontbonne University.
Sister Rita Louise dedicated the next 20 years to serving her CSJ community at both the province and congregational levels. She was the coordinator of publications and communication for the St. Louis Province from 1992 to 2003. After a brief sabbatical, she worked with the community life staff at Nazareth Living Center, assisting the sister residents. From 2005 to 2014, she served as the archivist for the Congregational Center of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Sister Rita Louise retired in 2014 and continued to serve in volunteer ministry. In 2019, she became the part-time archivist liaison for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province. In the spring of 2024, she moved to Nazareth Living Center to carry out her ministry of prayer and presence.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, November 13 at Nazareth Living Center Chapel, 2 Nazareth Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129. The visitation will be at 9 a.m. CT, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. The Mass will be available to view via livestream at https://video.ibm.com/channel/csjsl-general.
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.