Wednesday, August 5, 2009

A Mass of Christian Burial for Congregation of Divine Providence Sister Mary Cletus Hehman was celebrated on July 31 in Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Anne Convent in Melbourne, Ky. Sister Mary Cletus, 76, died July 27, at Holy Family Home.

A native of Southgate, Ky., Sister Mary Cletus entered St. Anne Convent in 1949 and made her first profession of vows in 1951. She was a member of the Congregation of Divine Providence for 58 years.

Sister Mary Cletus’ teaching career spanned 55 years. As a primary teacher, she taught at three schools in Ohio: Assumption in Mt. Healthy; St. John the Baptist in Dry Ridge; and St. Michael in Ripley. She also taught at schools in West Virginia, Maryland and locally at St. Thomas School in Ft. Thomas, Ky.

Her love for educating young children and her deep interest in the Montessori philosophy of education, prompted her to pursue certification as Montessori teacher, which she received from Xavier University in 1966. Sister Mary Cletus was the founder of the St. Anne Montessori Program in Melbourne, and co-director of the Montessori programs at two schools in Lexington. She also became very involved in training other teachers in the Montessori method.

Sister Mary Cletus is survived by two sisters, Betty Welling and Margaret Schwalbach, and a brother, Wayne. Interment was in the convent cemetery.