Sister Jacinta, co-founder of Almost Home, a transitional home for homeless teenage mothers and their children, died Aug. 27 at her home at The Sarah Community. She was 85 and was a Franciscan Sister of Mary for 66 years.

Born Helen Margaret Elmendorf in 1933 in St. Charles, she was the eighth of 10 children born to Ralph J. and Frances (Knoblauch) Elmendorf. Her sister Mary entered the Sisters of St. Mary in 1944. Helen entered the congregation in 1952; she received the name Sister Jacinta Marie, and professed final vows in 1960.

She earned a bachelor’s in nursing from Saint Louis University (1958), a master’s in nursing service administration from the University of Iowa in Iowa City (1972), and a master’s in counseling from Santa Clara University, Calif., (1986).

She was a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis, until 1960 and then at St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Ill. (1960-62). She supervised the medical/surgical units at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City, Mo., for a year, then at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis. (1963-66). She also supervised the Medical/Surgical and Intensive Care Units and then directed Nursing Service at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. (1966-71).

Sister Jacinta was director of nursing and then assistant executive director at St. Clare’s Hospital in Baraboo, Wis. (1972-77). She established St. Clare’s first Intensive Care Unit, as well as a new emergency department and a Code Blue Team, greatly improving quality of care.

In 1978, she became director of nursing at St. Louis City Hospital, playing a major part in the merger of Homer G. Phillips Hospital into St. Louis City Hospital. From 1980-81, she was associate administrator. She was corporate director of nursing for the SSM Health Care system (1981-84). In December 1986, she helped open St. Joseph Hospital-West in Lake St. Louis, serving as nursing service director until 1991.

She served in FSM leadership (1991-95). In 1996 she helped found Almost Home, a transitional home for homeless teenage mothers and their children. She was Almost Home’s director of development (1996-99), interim director (1999-2000), and executive director (2000-02).

After retiring, she volunteered at SSM St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood and SSM St. Joseph’s Health Center. She was a part of the FSM Intercessory Prayer Ministry. She moved to The Sarah Community in August 2011.

Sister Jacinta is survived by her sister, Sister Mary Elmendorf, FSM, of Bridgeton; and a brother Ralph Elmendorf of St. Charles.