Sister Jude Birck OSF

BIRCK, ROTH

Posted By: Ruth Maring (email)
Date: 12/21/2005 at 07:15:15

The Clinton Herald
Published: December 19, 2005 01:30 pm

Sister Jude Birck OSF

CLINTON — Sister Jude Birck OSF, 94, of Clinton, died Saturday at the Alverno Health Care Facility.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at The Canticle Chapel with the Rev. Anthony Herold officiating. Burial will be in the St. Irenaeus Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at The Canticle, third floor. The rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. and the Scripture service will begin at 6:30 p.m. Lemke Funeral Homes, North Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be relatives, friends and members of the Sisters of St. Francis.

She was born March 28, 1911, in Henry, Ill., to Henry Peter and Helena Elizabeth Roth Birck.

She attended Doyle Elementary School in Marshall County, Ill.; the Academy of Our Lady, Peoria, Ill.; and Mount St. Clare Academy, Clinton, graduating in 1928. After graduating from Mount St. Clare College in 1930, she earned her baccalaureate degree in science from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, and her Master of Education degree from The College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn. Through grants sponsored by the National Science Foundation, she continued her studies in math and science at numerous colleges and universities throughout the country. She had Iowa and Kentucky permanent professional secondary teaching and administration certificates.

She entered the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent, Clinton, on June 10, 1928, and received the name Mary Jude at her reception on April 30, 1929. She made her first profession on June 22, 1931, and her final profession on June 19, 1934.

She spent most of her 56 years of active ministry as a science and math teacher and principal. She served in Victor, Fonda, Perry and Danbury. She also taught in St. Patrick, Mo. She was assigned to St. Patrick School, Maysville, Ky., two different times for a total of 26 years. She left there in 1982. The Kentucky Laureate Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi honored her as “Lady of the Year.” The mayor of Maysville proclaimed May 7 as “Sister Mary Jude Day.” Her final mission assignment was at St. Catherine School, Riverside, Calif., where she continued to teach for six more years on a part-time basis.

She retired to the Mount St. Clare Convent in 1988 where she assisted in the congregation’s communications office until moving to The Canticle in 1997. She moved to The Alverno Health Care Facility in 2001.

Survivors include one brother, Raymond (Elaine) Birck of Ft. Meyers, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and two sisters.

Death Date: Dec. 17, 2005