Mary Herbert Woodward

Sister Mary Herbert Woodward passed away on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at the Carmel Home. She was born in Owensboro on September 17, 1926, as Betty Lee Woodward, the oldest of five children to Herbert and Mary Elizabeth Rudy Woodward. She was a beautiful tom boy and was very adventurous. She attended St. Joseph Parish School in Owensboro and always had a deep love for that parish and greatly mourned when it was torn down.

After high school, she achieved her great dream of becoming a pilot. She worked for a local bank and then, in her late twenties, went with a friend who was exploring religious vocations and both of them learned about a new congregation in France that attracted them. Not knowing any French, they embarked on a great adventure, boarding a ship in 1955 and sailed to France. They entered The Servants of The Lamb of God. In 1958, this new congregation was invited by Bishop Cotton to establish a U.S. foundation in Owensboro. After profession, Sister Mary Herbert returned to Owensboro and helped build the novitiate at Reed, KY. Later she was asked to go to our mission in Camaroon, Africa, where she served the medical Sisters as a carpenter and handyman, and worked with the African boys. She was in the Mission for 19 years. Illness brought her back to Kentucky. She was many years at the Christie Place Community, and more recently at the Carmel Home, where she received loving care. Sister Mary Herbert had a great sense of humor and she was a loving and OBEDIENT religious.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Brother Robert Woodward, C.S.C., nephews Eric Woodward and Jerry Keller, sisters-in-law, Helen Knott Woodward and Joyce Ann Woodward.

She is survived by her sister, Joyce (Gerald) Keller of Owensboro, brothers, Joseph Rudy Woodward of Alabama and Glenn Woodward of Owensboro, many nieces and nephews, and her religious community.

We would like to thank the Carmel Home for their loving care.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 3:30 P.M. Monday, April 27 at Immaculate Catholic Church by Father Tony Jones. Inurnment will be in Brest, France at a later time. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Sunday with prayers at 7:30 P.M. at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and at 3:00 P.M. Monday at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of The Lamb of God. www.glennfuneralhome.com.