Sr. Teresita Kern

SISTER TERESITA KERN, ASC, 93 , of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois, died peacefully at 3:20 pm, Friday, October 13, 2017 at Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois.

She was born Margaret Rita to the late Christian and Helen (nee Kelly) Kern in Red Bud, Illinois on June 5, 1924.

She made her first vows as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ on July 1, 1941 and perpetual profession on July 1, 1946 and was Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 76 years.

Sr. Teresita’s years of ministry were spent as Assistant cook, Head Cook, Housekeeper for 30 years and then as Food Service Manager for another 30 years.

Her places of service included 4 smaller communities of Waterloo, IL, Vienna, MO, Murphysboro, IL and O’Fallon, IL. She served primarily in larger institutions, such as St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis, IL, the Ruma Center, Loretto Home and Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, IL, St. John Cantius Seminary in St. Louis, MO, the King’s House Retreat Center in Belleville, IL, the Weier Nursing Home in Belleville, St. Ann’s Healthcare Center in Chester, IL and Clementine Residence, a home for retired ASC sisters in Red Bud, IL.

Her managerial skills were welcomed at 3 hospitals, which were then sponsored by the former Ruma Province, namely St. Joseph Memorial in Murphysboro, IL, St. Clement (now Red Bud Regional) Hospital in Red Bud, IL and St. Vincent (now Taylorville) Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, IL. She also served 10 years as Food Service Manager at DeMattias Hall, the House of Studies for ASCs and sisters of many other communities while they attended St. Louis University.

Sr. Teresita began Living Mission in Later Life at the Ruma Center in June of 2003. She continued lending a hand in the kitchen and cross-stitching quilt blocks.

One of 8 children, she grew up in a family where mealtime was important. Sr. Teresita carried this view with her – she enjoyed the opportunities to share meals with sisters and friends, relishing both the food and the conversation.

Sr. Teresita was preceded in death by her parents, 4 Brothers – Leo (Erna) Kern, Joseph (Cora) Kern, Simon (Mary Ellen) Kern and James Kern (in infancy) and 2 Sisters – Helen (Clem) Schlotman and Sr. Wilfreda Kern, ASC, several nephews and a niece.

She was survived by her sister – Sr. Lucille Kern, ASC, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and the ASC community.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 am, Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Ruma Center Chapel, Ruma, Illinois

Visitation: Monday - 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Ruma Center Chapel, Ruma, Illinois

Prayer Service: Monday at 7:00 pm

Interment: Convent Cemetery

Ruma, Illinois

Donations in memory of Sister Teresita may be sent to the ASC Retirement Fund, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63109 or online at www.adorers.org , “Support Our Ministries”.