Sr. AdamsA funeral Mass was celebrated for Sister Marie Damien Adams on June 6 at Nazareth Living Center in south St. Louis County. Sister Marie Damien died May 31 at Nazareth Living Center. She was 89 years of age and a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 71 years.
Sister Marie Damien Adams, baptized Joanne, was born on Sept. 27, 1932, in Peoria, Illinois, to John Luke and Marie (Schmitt) Adams. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1950 and was received into the novitiate in 1951. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Avila College in 1960; a master’s degree in speech pathology from Northwestern University in 1964; and a doctorate in speech pathology/audiology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1968.
Sister Marie Damien began her 70 years of ministry teaching elementary education. She started in 1953 at Holy Rosary Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri. From 1957 to 1963, she taught at St. Rose of Lima Grade School in Houston, Texas.
After earning her master’s from Northwestern University in 1964, Sister Marie Damien was a faculty member at Fontbonne College (now University) in St. Louis from 1964 to 1966. After earning her doctorate in 1968, she served as the academic dean at Fontbonne College until 1988.
From 1988 to 1992, she served her CSJ community as the assistant province director at the St. Joseph Provincialate. After a year-long sabbatical, Sister Marie Damien served as general councilor for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
From 1998 to 1992, she served as the assistant director for the St. Louis province. Sister Marie Damien was a general councilor from 1994 to 2002 for the congregation.
Sister Marie Damien served the next 11 years at CSJ Care as an administrative team member. She retired in 2013 and, since 2017, she had resided at Nazareth Living Center carrying out a mission of prayer and presence.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.