A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Mary Junkin, D.C., was celebrated June 27, 2015, at Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery in Evansville. Sister Mary died June 24 at Seton Residence. She was 89 years of age and 62 years vocation as a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born Dec. 5, 1925, in Lake Providence, La., Sister Mary was the daughter of William and Bertha (Zurhellen) Junkin. She was baptized Mary Owen Junkin. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in Natchez, Miss., in 1943. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Our Lady of the Lake, San Antonio, Texas, in 1947. In 1959, Sister completed her Master of Arts degree in English Research at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.
Sister Mary began her ministry in education at St. Joseph School in New Orleans and later taught at Labouré High School and Marillac College in St. Louis; St. Vincent High School in Perryville, Mo.; Marillac High School in Northfield, Ill.; and Cathedral Schools in Natchez. Sister Mary also served as principal of Cathedral Schools in Natchez; Our Lady of Victories High School in Pascagoula, Miss.; and Vincent Gray Alternative High School in East St. Louis, Ill. In 1996, Sister began serving as librarian at Cathedral Schools and St. Mary’s Parish in Natchez. In 2003, Sister Mary assumed the duty of archival assistant and librarian at Mater Dei Provincialate and Seton Residence in Evansville, and continued there in the Ministry of Prayer until the time of her death.
Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Genevieve (Jennie) Junkin; her sisters: Margaret (Sister Catherine Junkin, D.C.), Edwina (Gene) Blanchard; her brothers: William, Jr., (Alma) and George (Ninette) Junkin; and her step-brother, Richard (Virginia) Smith. She is survived by her sister, Marty (J.W., III) Seibert, many nieces and nephews, many friends, and her Sisters in Community.