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Mother
Ann Marie Kerper of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
was buried in the order's cemetery in Lowell, Michigan, on Saturday,
July 22, 2000, following a regal celebration of the Mass of Christian
Burial at St. Mary Church, Lowell at 10:30 a.m.
Hundreds
of friends, family members, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist,
and the leadership team of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual
Adoration, La Crosse, Wisconsin, joined with several priests and
the celebrant, Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, Auxiliary Bishop
of Detroit, to celebrate the Eucharistic Liturgy for Mother
Ann Marie Kerper. Bishop Vigneron, a close friend of Mother Ann
Marie, spoke of her as a true woman of the Church and a woman
of faith. He emphasized the connection between the readings for
today's feast of St. Mary Magdalen and the lived faith of a Church
woman such as Mother Ann Marie.
Eulogies
were given by the Very Reverend Douglas Mosey, CSB, a long
time friend, and the Rector and President of Holy Apostles Seminary
and College, Cromwell, Connecticut; Sister Marla Lang, FSPA,
Congregational Leader of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration,
La Crosse, Wisconsin; Mother Rita Brunner, FSE, Superior
of the Franciscan Life Process Center, Lowell; and Mother Rosemae
Pender, FSE, Mother General of the Franciscan Sisters of the
Eucharist, Meriden, Connecticut. These eulogies brought to light
the vibrant and faith-filled life of Mother Ann Marie and illustrated
the influence she has had on so many persons throughout the world.
Mother
Ann Marie's contagious enthusiasm for people and her love of the
Church were also shown by the diversity of persons present, each
representing aspects of her life: her family members whose roots
are in New Vienna, Iowa; her religious communities for whom she
was a leader, an inspiring example, and the "Mother of Franciscan
Renewal"; several young adults from Rome, Italy, who looked to
her for inspiration and guidance in their vocations; families
and children who loved her passion for life; friends who generously
supported her interests; religious brothers and priests who learned
from her how consecrated women and men can work effectively together;
Franciscan Apprentices who admired her spirit of Franciscan joy,
her undaunted faith and her courage to risk; elderly men and women
who gained a deeper understanding of their faith through their
mutual experience of suffering in the process of aging.
The
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist have established the Mother
Kerper Education Fund in her memory.
Sister
Patricia Glass, FSE, Funeral Director and Embalmer, Meriden,
Connecticut and Roth-Gerst of Lowell were in charge of funeral
arrangements.
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