Sister Mary John Lindner (Frances Louise), age 102, died at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland on August 27, 2026. She was born in Cumberland, Maryland on December 24, 1923, the 9th of 13 children born to Teresa (Lehman) and John Lindner. Before entering the Community, Sister Mary John was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Cumberland. She graduated from the Catholic Girls’ Central High School in 1941 and then worked in the laboratory at Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, operated by the Daughters of Charity. She entered the Community on January 5, 1945, in Saint Louis, Missouri, the location of the Western Province of the Daughters of Charity. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1951 from Fontbonne College in Saint Louis. She then earned her Master of Education degree in Education from Saint Louis University in Saint Louis in 1956 and her Doctorate in Education from Saint John’s University in Jamaica, New York in 1966.
Following initial formation, Sister Mary John taught at St. Theresa School, New Orleans, Louisiana (1946-1952), Laboure High School (1952-1957) and Marillac College (1957-1961), both in Saint Louis. From 1961 to 1966, Sister Mary John studied at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and St. John’s University and later served as Teacher Education Chairperson at Marillac College (1966-1971). Sister Mary John then served as Provincial Councillor from 1971 to 1974 and Visitatrix (Provincial) of the West Central Province of the Daughters of Charity in Saint Louis from 1974 to 1983.
After these years of Community service, Sister Mary John was sent to Odessa, Texas to serve in parish ministry at St. Anthony Parish and St. Joseph Parish (1983-1985). From there, she went to Amarillo, Texas to serve as the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Amarillo (1985-1990). From 1990 to 1998, Sister Mary John taught at St. Mary’s Regional School in West Plains, Missouri and then as Pastoral Minister in St. Mary’s Parish in West Plains for one year. From here, Sister Mary John was sent back to Saint Louis to serve as Sister Servant of Anna House of The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Missouri (1999-2005).
From 2006 to 2012, she served as tutor at Parkwood Elementary School and Holy Spirit School in the Saint Louis area. During all these years, Sister Mary John wrote poetry. She loved to sit and enjoy reading her poems, often saying that “we truly have the hundredfold.” In 2012, Sister Mary John was missioned to Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg for the Ministry of Prayer, a position she held until her death.
In addition to her parents, Sister Mary John was preceded in death by six sisters; Sister Florence Lindner, D. C., Sister Madeline Lindner, D. C., Marie Yockus, Sister Clare Lindner, D.C., Sister Regina Lindner, D.C. and infant Bernadette; her five brothers, John, infant Paul, Philip, James, and Michael Lindner. She is survived by her sister, Loretta “Boo” Lippold, many beloved nieces and nephews, friends, and her Sisters in Community.
A wake service was held in the Villa Chapel on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The Mass of Christian Burial took place the following day, Wednesday, September 2, in the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg. Burial followed in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery on the grounds.