Sister Sheila Anne Smith

Sister Sheila Anne Smith, 81, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 63rd year of religious life. She was a native of Butler, Pa., but raised in Farmington, N.M. Sister Sheila Anne spent 35 years serving in the Southwest, where she had a special fondness for serving Native Americans. She was a gifted writer and tutor. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Brescia College in 1966. She taught at St. Catherine School, New Haven, Ky. (1966-72), Our Lady of Mercy School, Hodgenville, Ky. (1972-73) and Lourdes Elementary School, Nebraska City, Neb. (1973-76). She served in health care at Maple Mount (1976-79). She then began serving in the Southwest, teaching at St. Joseph School, San Fidel, N.M. (1979-80) and St. Anthony School, Zuni, N.M. (1980-82). She was religious education coordinator at St. Charles Borromeo School, Albuquerque, N.M. (1982-85). She spent the next seven years in Arizona, serving in the Desert House of Prayer, St. Michael (1985-86), as a catechist at Saint Anne Mission, Klageton (1986-87), as a parish minister at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greasewood (1987-92), and director of religious education at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook (1992). She returned to Albuquerque to serve in the Dominican Retreat House (1993-94), then worked as a private tutor (1994-2014), writer and consultant for Loyola Press (1994-2010). She moved to Maple Mount in 2014, serving as assistant to the archivist (2014-16), then crocheting filter covers for Water With Blessings (2016-23).

Survivors include the members of her religious community; sisters Barbara Kavanagh and Sheila Watt, both of San Andreas, Calif., Connie Deaver and Marianne Waage, both of Hayward, Calif.; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ruth Smith; and a brother, Arthur Richard Smith.

The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Mount Saint Joseph, where visitation will begin Monday at 4:30 p.m., with a wake service following at 6:30 p.m.

Donations in memory of Sister Sheila Anne may be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.

Care by Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory.

Memories and condolences may be offered online www.glenncares.com