Mary Jovita Milner

Sister Mary Jovita Milner, OSU


Louisville Sister Mary Jovita Milner, 89, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Aug. 24 in her 69th year of religious life. She was born in Platteville, Colo., and grew up in Grayson County.

An educator for more than 50 years, Sister Mary Jovita was a compassionate person who lived her life by the words, "Lord, whatever you want." She taught at St. Elizabeth School, Curdsville, 1942-46 and 1962-64, and St. Joseph School, Owensboro, 1946-49. She also taught in the Archdiocese of Louisville and in New Mexico. >From 1983- 2010, she served as a teacher, part-time tutor, parish minister, and finally religious presence at St. Bartholomew School and Parish, Louisville. She was called home on the feast of St. Bartholomew.

Survivors include a sister, Marcella Smith of Whiteland, Ind., an adopted brother, the Rev. Peter Hsu, of China, her longtime caretaker Betty O'Cana, nieces and nephews, and the members of her religious community.

A wake service begins at 8 a.m. EDT Thursday at St. Bartholomew, followed by the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Ratterman Funeral Home of Louisville is in charge of those arrangements. A wake will be held at Mount Saint Joseph at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, with visitation beginning at 4 p.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, Owensboro, is in charge of those arrangements.

Gifts in memory of Sister Mary Jovita Milner may take the form of donations to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.