Ann Kernen, SCN, 90, (formerly Sister Anthony) was born in Frankfort, Kentucky on Oct. 18, 1931. She died June 6, 2022, in Louisville, Kentucky. She was a professed Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 70 years.
Sister Ann’s early ministries were in education. She taught kindergarten and first grade and was a music teacher to primary grades. She taught seventh grade at St. Lawrence in Louisville. She earned her undergraduate degree in education from Spalding University in Louisville and her master’s in guidance from Michigan State. She then attended Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa, for the Formation Director Program, and served in the novitiate at Nazareth from 1972 to 1976.
Following a year-long sabbatical, Sister Ann served her religious community as assistant provincial. She later was the assistant coordinator at Nazareth Home in Louisville. From 1999 to 2002 she was the associate regional for the U.S. southern region of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregation. After several months of study and orientation in Mokama, India, Sister Ann served as a counselor and in pastoral ministry in Kathmandu, Nepal. Sister Ann later served in Belize in parish ministry and as the vocations director in Belize.
Sister Ann served in health care as vice president of mission in London, Kentucky at Marymount Hospital; as Appalachian outreach counselor at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky; and as a chaplain at Flaget Hospital in Bardstown, Kentucky.
She is survived by her sister, Mary Joyce Kernen, SCN; by her extended family, and by her religious community, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
I have so many things I could say about Sister Ann, but anyone who knew her doesn’t need to be reminded of her kindness, and her constant smile. Even throughout her illness she always had that smile, and never once did I ever hear her complain, always kept her sense of humor. And occasionally she liked one-half of a “miller light”, with a couple pieces of “thin-crust” pizza. CHEERS ANN!
We have loved you in life and you will never be forgotten.
And we will keep an eye on your sister, Sr. Mary Joyce.
I have vivid memories from working at what was King Center and talking late into the evening with Sr. Ann when she was traveling to Frankfort while her mother was dying, trying to help her decompress from her emotional strain with good music and a willing heart. She was 2 years older than my own mother who is now spiraling away from dementia. She had the kindest heart and surest faith of anyone I knew while I was working on campus.
Sr. Ann was always a bright and shining light! Her kindness, gentleness and patience were always in evidence and she shone with God’s grace. Truly a privilege to have known here while she was here at Nazareth Home. Rest easy with your Beloved, Sister!
I was blessed to be able to take care of sister Ann at Nazareth home she was an angel I love and miss her so much and continue to think of her everyday