Sister Celine Clark

Sister Celine Clark died at the age of 98 on October 8, 2011, one month before her 99th Birthday. Sister Celine was a long time resident of Camilla Hall at St. Joseph Center in Tipton, Indiana. For many years she received wonderful care from the sisters and staff and responded with a loving and welcoming spirit.

Mabel Anna Clark was born to Bertha (Funderburg) Clark and Herman Clark on November 23, 1912 in Huntington, Indiana. Surviving are a brother, Paul (Marilyn) Clark of Huntington, Indiana and a sister, Mary Louise Kreiger of Loveland, Colorado as well as several nieces and nephews and the members of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Siblings Helen Semple and Ruth Sesline both preceded her in death.

At the age of nineteen, Mabel entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Tipton on October 7, 1931 and was given the name, Sister Mary Celine. Her final profession of vows was made on July 2 in 1937. After attending Normal School and receiving a life license in teaching Sister Celine accepted her first teaching assignment at St. Matthew’s School in South Bend, Indiana in 1940 and continued in the field of education, also teaching in the parochial schools of Wabash, Kokomo and Tipton, until she was appointed as the Director of Novices for the Sisters in Tipton in 1949. Sister Celine served her community in that capacity for fifteen years until she was elected to the General Council in 1964. Six years later, 1970, she moved to Bend, Oregon, where she ministered in the Pastoral Care Department at St. Charles Medical Center, a hospital then sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph. When she returned to Indiana in 1974, Sr. Celine served as a pastoral visitor at Mercy Hospital in Elwood, Indiana.

During the many years of her illness her days were given to reading, praying and greeting visitors with an inviting smile and words of gratitude. She could be found with a book in hand, eagerly reading and, until the past few years, tried to keep abreast of current events. Sister Celine was a woman who offered her whole heart in prayer and faithfulness. Many within the Congregation are grateful for her prayerful presence in their lives during their years of formation as Sisters and beyond. Her spirit, which radiated a presence of peace and gentle welcome, will remain in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Visitation is scheduled at St. Joseph Center Chapel in Tipton, Indiana for Tuesday, October 11, beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Wednesday morning, October 12, preceding the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m., at which Father Patrick K. Hosey will preside. Burial will be in the Cemetery at St. Joseph Center following the Mass. May Sister Celine now rest in Christ’s eternal peace.

Young-Nichols Funeral Home is handling arrangements.