Sister Mary Jean Assell

Sister Mary Jean Assell died September 8, 2016, at Mount Joseph Senior Village in Concordia, KS.  She was 84 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 66 years.  She was born in Aurora, IL, on April 13, 1932, to Carl Jerome and Jeanette Baird Assell, the third of three children, and was baptized Mary Jean.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, KS on September 7, 1949.  On March 18, 1950, Mary Jean received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Charles Marie, later returning to her baptismal name Mary Jean.  She pronounced first vows on March 19, 1951, and final vows on March 19, 1954.

Sister Mary Jean received a B.A. in psychology from Marymount College in 1962.  In 1972 she received a Master’s in Religious Education from Seattle University.  During the years of 1954-1967, Sister Mary Jean taught elementary grades in Schoenchen, Salina, and Plainville, KS; and Silver City, NM.  From 1968-1977 she served as Religious Educator in Grand Island, NE.  Beginning in 1977 Sister Mary Jean served as Religious Education Coordinator in West Burlington, IA for a full 25 years.  She retired from ministry in 2002 and lived at Medaille Center, Salina, KS.  In 2006 Sister Mary Jean moved to the Motherhouse; later moving to Mt. Joseph Senior Village in 2014.

Sister Mary Jean was preceded in death by her parents and one sister.  She is survived by her sister, Pat Krebs, of Plainfield, IL.  A Bible Vigil Service will be held Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Sylvia Winterscheidt as the eulogist.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, September 14 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel with Fr. Jim Hoover presiding.  The burial will be in the Nazareth Motherhouse Cemetery.  Nutter Mortuary, 116 E. 6th St., Concordia, KS is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials for Sister Mary Jean Assell may be given to the Sisters of St. Joseph Health Care/ Retirement Fund or the Apostolic Works of the Sisters; P.O Box 279, Concordia, Kansas 66901

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