Sister Kathleen Ann Murray

“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”

St. Louise de Marillac

Sister Kathleen Ann Murray died on April 25, 2025, at the age of 89 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility for the Sisters of Charity. Sister Kathleen Ann was born on Nov. 14, 1935, to Lawrence and Helen Margaret (Brown) Murray in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was one of four children, having a sister and two brothers. She was a Sister of Charity for 70 years.

Sister Kathleen Ann grew up in Cincinnati, where she attended St. Mary Grade School in Hyde Park and graduated from St. Mary High School in 1954. Inspired by the positive influence of her Sisters of Charity teachers over 12 years, she entered the congregation after her senior year.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1964.

Sister Kathleen Ann’s ministries spanned more than 55 years, including 48 years in Catholic education and 21 years serving in urban neighborhoods with diverse population – all within the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She served as elementary principal for 17 years and spent four years as an educational supervisor for the archdiocese. In addition, she devoted nine years as director of the Sisters of Charity Hospitality Office.

Her years in the elementary classroom began at St. Albert the Great in Kettering, Ohio, in 1956. She then taught at St. William in Cincinnati from 1961 to 1967, and again from 1971 to 1976. She also taught at St. Gabriel in Glendale (1979-’84). From 1967 to 1971, Sister Kathleen Ann served as a religious education supervisor for the archdiocese.

Her ministry as a principal began at St. Martin de Porres (1976-’79), followed by Holy Family (1984-’85, and again from 1991-’98). Between those assignments, she served as principal at Price Hill Catholic from 1985 to 1991.

In 1998, Sister Kathleen Ann stepped away from the responsibilities of school administration but remained eager to continue sharing her gifts with children in inner-city Catholic schools. She served as the school secretary at Resurrection School from 1998 until 2004, greeting students each morning while building warm, trusting relationships with their parents and grandparents. Her caring and welcoming spirit left a lasting impression on the entire school community.

In 2004, she transitioned from education to become the director of the Sisters of Charity Hospitality Office. In this role, she coordinated meeting spaces, welcomed guests to the Motherhouse, and supported both staff and new Sister residents—sharing her gift of hospitality with all who visited. She retired from this ministry in 2014.

In 1998, Sister Kathleen Ann received her Community’s Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to Catholic urban education. Named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder of the Sisters of Charity, the award honors individuals who have made a lasting impact on Catholic education and the well-being of young people. That same year, she began serving on the Leadership Team for the Sisters in the Townhall Network, a role she held until 2004.

In her retirement years, Sister Kathleen Ann volunteered at the Motherhouse front desk, where she was always ready to share a humorous story from her days in the classroom. Storytelling remained one of her greatest joys. As her health declined, she moved to Mother Margaret Hall in 2018, where she was deeply grateful for the compassionate care she received.

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