Sr. FaltusA Mass of Resurrection for Sister Clarice Faltus, OSF, was celebrated on March 14 at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in Shrewsbury. Sister Clarice was 93 years old at the time of her death.
Barbara Ann Faltus was born on Jan. 29, 1931, to Clara and Bertram Faltus in East St. Louis, Illinois. The seeds of her vocation were nurtured by her parents. She entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1952 after working briefly in a realty firm, followed by four years in an accounting office while taking classes at Washington University in St. Louis. Sister Clarice professed her first vows as a Franciscan sister in 1955 and final vows in 1958.
Sister Clarice earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Webster College and a master’s degree in education from Saint Louis University. Her ministry as a Catholic school educator spanned 55 years and catapulted from primary teacher to elementary and high school principal to assuming the role of superintendent.
Sister Clarice ministered in the Archdiocese of St Louis at Holy Ghost School in Berkeley (1954-58) and Immaculate Conception School in Augusta (1960-61). Her teaching ministry outside of St. Louis included St. Andrew School in Christopher, Illinois (1958-61); St. Luke School in Stockton, California (1961-65); and Our Lady of Fatima School in Monroe, Louisiana (1965-71).
In 1971, Sister Clarice’s ministry as administrator commenced at Our Lady of Fatima School in Monroe, Louisiana (1971-1977), followed by her tenure as principal at St. Frederick High School in Monroe (1977-87). She then assumed the role of superintendent of the Diocese of Shreveport, Louisiana (1987-89). Between 1989-98, Sister Clarice served in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, as associate superintendent and acting superintendent. Ever a proponent for students, Sister Clarice resumed her role as principal at Kapaun Mount Carmel High School Inn Wichita, (1998-2000) followed by first becoming principal at Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, Nebraska (2000-03) and then dean of student affairs (2003-04).
Upon retirement from Catholic education, Sister Clarice continued to tend to the hearts of God’s people by becoming a pastoral minister at St. Stephen the Martyr Parish in Omaha for 14 years. She oversaw the ministry of welcome, the food pantry and social justice projects until 2020 when Sister agreed to full-time retirement at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in Shrewsbury.
Sister is preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Rosemary Leveling and Michelle Faltus, SFCC. She is survived by her sister Jean Marie Faltus, SFCC.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.