Born in Belleville, Illinois, she is a graduate of Notre Dame High School there. She received the candidate’s veil at her home parish of St. Teresa in 1959 and was received into the novitiate in 1960 and given the name Marie Teresine. She professed first vows in 1961 and final vows in 1966. She later returned to her baptismal name of Annamary.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in music theory from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1963 and a master’s degree in elementary education from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1977.

For 29 years, Sister Annamary was an elementary teacher and also ministered as the liturgist and pastoral minister at: St. Bernadette Parish in Lemay; St. Francis Parish in Aviston, Illinois; St. Bridget Parish in Pacific; St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Teutopolis, Illinois; and Sacred Heart Parish in Eureka. She came to Immaculate Conception Parish in Union in 1993. During the next 27 years, she ministered as a teacher, music coordinator, director of religious education and liturgy director.

Besides being a musician and teacher, Sister Annamary had an intense interest in genealogy and volunteered at the Mormon Family History Center. She had also made contact with and visited relatives in Germany and France. She enjoyed reading and sewing.

Sister Annamary was missioned to Veronica House at The Sarah Community in mid-July 2020. A burial service was held at Theresa Center in St. Louis on Aug. 10. Burial was in Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

Survivors include a sister, Margaret Smelser, and a brother, Andrew Fellner.