A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Catherine Junkin, D.C., was celebrated April 20, 2013, at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans, La. Burial followed at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in New Orleans.
Sister Catherine died April 17, 2013, at 84 years of age at Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center in New Orleans. In December of 2012, she celebrated 66 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Natchez, Miss., on Dec. 15, 1928, Sister Catherine was the daughter of William J. Junkin, Sr., and Bertha Zurhellen Junkin. She was one of six children. Her sister, Sister Mary Junkin, also joined the Daughters of Charity; she lives in Evansville, Ind. Sister Catherine was baptized Margaret Zurhellen Junkin.
Sister Catherine graduated from St. Joseph School in Natchez, Miss., in 1946. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education with a minor in history from Fontbonne College (now University) in St. Louis, Mo., in 1957. In 1967, she completed her Master of Arts degree in teaching from Webster College (now University), in St. Louis.
Early in her career, Sister Catherine taught in Long Beach, Miss.; Dallas, Texas; Price, Utah; Carson City, Nev.; and St. Louis. In 1969, Sister Catherine headed to Louisiana and served there, except for one year in Pennsylvania (2000 to 2001), for the remainder of her life. She served in Donaldsonville, La., at Ascension Catholic Middle School where she was associate principal from 1969 to 1970 and a teacher 1977 to 1979. The remainder of Sister’s educational ministry was carried out in New Orleans at the following schools and roles: St. Joseph School, 1970 to 1975 (principal); Blessed Sacrament School, 1975 to 1976 (teacher); St. Stephen School, 1976 to 1977 (teacher); Corpus Christi School, 1979 to 1987 (principal); St. Philip the Apostle School, 1987 to 1993 (principal); St. David School, 1993 to 1997 (assistant principal/math teacher); Marian Central Catholic Middle School, 1997 to 1998 and 2001 (math teacher/math tutor); St. Mary of the Angels School, 1998 to 2000 (principal); St. Philip the Apostle School, 2001 to 2005 (math tutor and GED); St. Mary’s Academy, 2002 to 2005 (tutor); MAX School, January 2006 to June 2006 (tutor); and St. Mary’s Academy West, April 2006 to 2013 (tutor).
Sister Catherine was preceded in death by her two brothers, William, Jr. (Alma), and George (Ninette); by her twin sister Edwina and Edwina’s husband Gene Blanchard; by her stepmother Genevieve Junkin; and stepbrother Richard Smith (Virginia). She is survived by two sisters, Sister Mary Junkin, D.C., Evansville, Ind.; and Marty Seibert (J.W.); her sister-in-law, Alma; many nieces and nephews; and her Sisters in Community.