Sister Mary Esther Otter

Sister Mary Esther Otter died  January 13, at  Mt. Joseph Senior Village  in Concordia, KS.  She was 84 years old and a Sister of St. Joseph for 65 years.  She was born in Clayton, KS on November 22, 1933, to Frank and Margaret Bates Otter, the third of eight children, and was baptized Irene Fernunda.  She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph, Concordia, KS on February 6, 1952.  On August 15, 1952, Irene received the habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph and was given the name Sister Mary Esther.  She pronounced first vows on August 15, 1953 and final vows on August 15, 1956.

Sister Mary Esther received a AB in History and English from Marymount College, Salina, KS in 1965.  Post graduate work was done in Duluth, MN and Minnesota University in St. Paul, Fort Hays, KS and Kansas State in Manhattan.  She taught for 26 years in schools staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Silver City, NM, Cawker City, Schoenchen, Manhattan, and Salina, KS.  She then co-founded and ministered at St.  Clare House in Junction, KS.  In 2000 Sister Mary Esther retired to the Motherhouse; followed by a move to Mt. Joseph Senior Village in February 2017.

Sister Mary Esther was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and one brother.  She is survived by three sisters, two of whom are also Sisters of St. Joseph – Sister Francis Margaret, Concordia, KS, and Sister Donna of El Paso, Texas – and JoAnn Long of Clayton, KS; and two brothers, Alvin of Wichita, KS and Marion of New Almelo, KS.  A Bible Vigil Service will be held  January 16  at 9:30 a.m. in the Nazareth Motherhouse Chapel with Sister Mary Jo Thummel as the eulogist.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be January 16 at 10:30 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel, Father  Dan Scheetz  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 Esther Otter 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, KS  66901.