Mary Michelle Naber, SCN, 87, (formerly Julia Ann) was born June 27, 1938, in Louisville, Ky., to Herman and Bernardine (Breidenstein) Naber. She died Sept. 29, 2025, in Louisville. She was a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 66 years.
Sister Mary Michelle served in education for many years. Her first ministry was teaching fifth graders at St. Joseph’s in Bardstown, Ky. She taught seventh grade at St. Catherine of Siena in Ft. Thomas, Ky., at St. Peter in Lexington, Ky. and at St. Vincent de Paul in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. From 1968 to 1972 she served as principal and teacher at St. William in London, Ky.
From 1974 to 1979, she was the religion coordinator for St. Mary of the Woods in Whitesville, Ky.
After earning a master’s degree in library science from Spalding College in Louisville, Sister Mary Michelle began work with the school’s media center library. She worked in the Spalding College library for over 20 years. She next served in the Bellarmine University library for 12 years, until her retirement in 2012.
She is survived by her SCN Community and her extended family.
The funeral arrangements for Sister Mary Michelle Naber are as follows:
- Honor Guard at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2, in front of the Motherhouse
- There will be no wake
- The Funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, in St. Vincent de Paul Church
- Burial will follow in the Nazareth Cemetery.
- Services will be streamed live at nazareth.org/live.
Funeral Arrangements are being handled by Ratterman Funeral Home, 3800 Bardstown Road in Louisville. Memorials may be made to the Office of Mission Advancement, PO Box 9, Nazareth, KY, 40048.
Sr. Mary Michelle Naber was important to so many people! She devoted her life to serving others, not only as a SCN, but throughout various aspects of her life. She was the devoted daughter to the late Bernadine and Herman Naber. She was the baby sister to the late Fr. Herman Naber, John Naber, and Charles Naber. She has joined her family in the Kingdom of Heaven; where she has longed to be. Besides a daughter and a sister, Sr. Mary Michelle was an aunt, great aunt (the absolute greatest!), sister-in-law, friend, confidant, teacher, role model, and a prayer warrior. She adored her family and we adored her so much! She had a heart for children and was great with kids of any age! She would be the first one to sit down on the floor with her nieces and nephews to play a game, play cards, work a puzzle, color, or teach them how to tie their shoes; when their parents fell a bit short in that department. She and her father enjoyed riding their bikes around their neighborhood or to get an ice cream from the Dairy Castle. She loved and cared about her neighbors. She would keep an eye on their houses for them while they were traveling and they did the same for her. They were good neighbors and good friends. Sister was very self-sufficient and did not want anyone to go out of their way for her; even though she did that for others all the time. She cooked bacon perfectly! She always had a candy stash; especially fun-sized Hershey bars that she kept in the refrigerator! In the last couple of years, she longed to be with the rest of her family in heaven. God answered her prayers on Monday, September 29th, at 2:05PM, when He called her home. I am certain there was much celebrating when she arrived! I know our Heavenly Father embraced her and said, “Yours was a life well-lived my good and faithful servant! Welcome Home!”.
Sister Mary Michelle, or “sissy shell” as I called her as a two year old who couldn’t say Sister Mary Michelle was the greatest great aunt anyone could dream of. She was a devoted Sister and she spread her wisdom to all who were in her presence. She always had a friendly smile on her face and she also seemed to always live “in the moment”. She lived with intention and listened in a caring manner as others spoke. Her empathy was vast and apparent. She had a special way with children and they loved her right back. Children could feel her inner goodness and our two children enjoyed their visits with “sissy shell”. Our daughter holds her namesake, Bernadine and we hope she remembers her great great aunt and also her great great grandmother who were also “Bernadine’s”.
May we all try to be a little more like Sister Mary Michelle, or “sissy shell”. I know her entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven must have been so joyous as she sees her beloved family that have gone before her.
We moved next door to Sister Michelle several years and became fast friends. She watched me bring both my babies home from the hospital and was quick to offer her prayers to our family. She was kind and encouraging to me. The kids loved going over to her house and she was so tolerant of them getting into all of her things. She was always so thoughtful and generous. When I was pregnant with my second, my son got books dropped on the porch about becoming a big brother. She spoiled them with candies, stuffed animals, and always made them feel special. We were able to visit her when she moved to Nazareth Homes. I wish we had the opportunity to see her more often than we did. Sister Michelle was in my prayers often over the years. I pray she felt our love. Despite being heavy hearted that she has gone home, I know she was ready. I’m comforted knowing the reunion she must be having and sending my most heartfelt condolences to all of her family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Sister Michelle. You will always live in our hearts.