Sr. Mary Claver Young

Sister Mary Claver Young died on Feb. 14. She was born to Gerard Berchman Young and Therese Bendix Young, in New Orleans, on Jan. 17, 1924. She enjoyed her family life with her two brothers and one sister. She attended elementary school at Saint Francis Assisi Catholic School in New Orleans and attended high school at Redemptorist Girls High School in New Orleans. She received a B.S. in education and library science at Loyola University in New Orleans.   

She entered the religious community on Sept. 7, 1940, in Webster Groves, Mo. She made her first profession of religious vows on March 12, 1943. She ministered to others for more than 69 years with her skills of teaching and her talent as an excellent seamstress. She has served as a teacher at schools in Louisiana, including Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School, Saint Alphonsus Catholic School, Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School and Saint Joseph Catholic School in Jeanerette, La. She served as the librarian at Mercy Center in St. Louis, Mo; Holy Name of Jesus Mercy Academy in New Orleans; and Saint Francis Xavier Academy in Vicksburg, Miss. She also served at Mercy Regional Medical Center in the medical records office, central dispatch and sewing in Vicksburg, Miss. She later volunteered at Park View Regional Medical Center and Sisters of Mercy Convent in Vicksburg and Mother of Mercy Convent in Frontenac, Mo.  

She retired at the Mercy Health Center Convent in Oklahoma City on Nov. 18, 2012. Throughout her life, she continued to be in contact with her family, community members and friends. She had a deep interest in co-workers and community events. She enjoyed sewing, knitting baby blankets, hats, booties and creating beautiful greeting cards on her computer. She was faithful to community spiritual events and graciously extended hospitality to all.

Her Mass of Christian Burial was on Feb. 16 at the Mercy Health Center Convent in Oklahoma City, and she was laid to rest at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City.

Celebrants at the Mass were Father Gabriel Emuria and Father John Sseruwu, with Deacon John Teague assisting.