Born Elizabeth Anne Brady in Baltimore, she entered the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary in 1948. Sister Catherine professed temporary vows in 1949, perpetual vows in 1952 and solemn vows in 1958. She came to St. Louis in 1961 to attend Marillac College and returned in 1966 after studying Montessori. In 1968, Sister Catherine requested and received permission from the Frederick, Md., Monastery to be incorporated into the St. Louis Visitation Monastery.

Sister Catherine found joy as a Montessori directress, winning the hearts of her pupils and their parents for almost five decades. She said her special delight was preparing the second-grade girls for their First Communion. She also served as community sacristan, insisting that nothing was too good for “the Lord Jesus and the chapel.” After Vatican II, another passion was her study of Scripture, taking classes, attending lectures and reading commentaries. Sister Catherine also served as vocation directress.