Sr. Mary Cleo Fritz

Sister Mary Stefanie (formerly Sister Mary Steven) was born on June 18, 1933, in Covington, Kentucky. She was the middle child of eleven children born to Stephen and Anna Fritz. The family lived in Covington, Kentucky, and Mary Cleo attended St. John Elementary School. After the eighth grade, she went to Notre Dame Academy in Covington. She entered the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame in her senior year of high school. She professed her vows on August 25, 1953. Sister Mary Stefanie ministered for many years in health care. She held a degree in Licensed Practical Nursing and Pharmacology from St. Francis Hospital. She received her training in Clinical Pastoral Education and her Certified Chaplaincy License both from Good Samaritan Hospital. Sister Mary Stefanie was naturally drawn to being a caregiver and was very compassionate with the sick and elderly. She worked in nursing for many years at the Provincial Center and at St. Claire Medical Center, Morehead, KY.. She also was Director of Pastoral Care at these same places for 17 years. For 10 years Sister served as a chaplain at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Sister is preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Anna Fritz; her brothers Joseph (Dorothy) and Leonard (Rita); sisters Julianna Schwartz (Arthur), Sister Mary Ann Adele Fritz, SND, and Mary Jo Hawley, and brother-in-law Nick Brake. Sister leaves behind her brothers Louis (Ann), Stephen (Barbara), and Lawrence (Pat); and sisters Sister Mary Kathelyn Fritz, SND and Cyrilla Brake and brother-in-law Robert Hawley, 30 nieces and nephews, 54 great-nieces and nephews, and 13 great great-nieces and nephews. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at the Provincial House, St. Joseph Heights, followed by a Wake Service at 9:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the convent chapel. Interment will follow immediately in the convent cemetery.