Rose Bernadette "Sami" Keller

Rose Bernadette “Sami” Keller, 87, of Owensboro, passed away Monday, March 9, 2026 under the care of Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Kentucky. She was born in Daviess County on November 27, 1938 to Bernard Casper and Mary Elizabeth Roby Keller. “Sami” has been a resident of the Carmel Home since June of 2018.

Sami was a member of Sts Joseph and Paul Catholic Church, and she served in several ministries as long as her health permitted. She was sustained in her Catholic faith by her devotion to Eucharistic adoration, the Rosary and daily Mass. Her family depended upon her prayers and called her their “Prayer Warrior”

She graduated from St Mary of the Woods High School, Whitesville, in 1956, and from Saint Mary and Elizabeth School of Nursing, Louisville, in 1959. She worked as a registered nurse at St Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, Our Lady of Mercy Hospital and Vanderbilt University Hospital- and after a career of 38 years of nursing, she retired from Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in 1997. She was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel in 1974.

Sami was preceded in death by her parents, three infant siblings; nephew, Todd Keller; brother, Frank Keller; brothers-in-law, Bob O’Bryan and Dick Boarman; sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Keller, Martha Jane Keller, Lisa Keller and Anna Faye Keller; former husband Derrell Cross; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Survivors include seven sisters, Genevieve Boarman and Alice Sue (Bryce) Roberts of Philpot, Mary Lou “Lulu” O’Bryan of Owensboro, Marie (Gerald) Wedding of Rineyville, Ky, Rose Mary (Ben) Thompson of Owensboro, Sister Martha Keller ,OSU Maple Mount and Margaret (Neil) Kallman of Indianapolis, In; four brothers, Bernard “Fred” Keller, of Hartford, Earl (Janis) Keller of Whitesville, Leroy (Joyce) Keller of Owensboro and Raymond “Buck” (Nancy) Keller, of Whitesville; a sister-in-law, Joy Keller of Owensboro; six nieces, Janie Matthews, Kim Gingerich, Shannon Payne, Jenny Thompson, Julie Lindamood and Sarah Barnes; and fourteen nephews, Bernard “Junior” Keller, Kenneth Keller, Jeff Keller, Brad Boarman, Bruce Boarman, Matt O’Bryan, Michael Wedding, Jason Wedding, Wesley Roberts, Jared Keller, Benjamin Thompson, Matt Thompson, Dan Kallman, and Jake Kallman.

The funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, March 16, at the Carmel Home Chapel. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 until 6:00 PM, with prayers at 5:30, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory and Monday from 9:30 until time of Mass at the Carmel Home. Burial will follow at St. Mary of the Woods Cemetery, Whitesville, Ky.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Carmel Home, 2501 Old Hartford Road, Owensboro, KY 42303, Ursuline Sisters of Mount St Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Owensboro, KY 42301 or Saints Joseph and Paul Catholic Church, 609 East 4th Street, Owensboro, KY 42303.

The family would like to offer sincere gratitude for the care provided by Fr. Ray Clark and the staff at the Carmel Home.

Messages and condolences for the family may be shared at www.glenncares.com.