Sister Kathleen Warner OSB

Sister Kathleen Warner, OSB, 88, died Thursday, March 24, 2016, in the 70th year of her religious life, at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y. and baptized Mary Lucille, Sister Kathleen was the daughter of Floyd and Mina (Langevin) Warner.
She entered the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph Monastery, St. Marys, on Sept. 5, 1944. On Aug. 20, 1946, Sister Kathleen pronounced her first vows; Oct. 22, 1949 marked the date of her perpetual profession. When it became clear that St. Joseph Monastery would be closing as a result of a climbing median age and lack of new members, Sister Kathleen moved to Erie on April 14, 2014. After prayer and discernment she asked to transfer her vows to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. On Aug. 11, 2015, Sister Kathleen was fully incorporated into the Erie Benedictine community.
Sister Kathleen held a B.S. in education from Villanova University and an M.A. in religious studies from St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia. From 1946 to 1995, Sister Kathleen was engaged in the ministry of education, both elementary and secondary teaching, and administration as a school principal. Teaching was her passion and she was especially grateful to share her love of God with her students. Over the years she taught at Sacred Heart and St. Marys Parochial, St. Marys; St. Callistus, Kane; St. Joseph, Lucinda; St. Joseph, Warren; St. Boniface, Kersey; and St. Adalbert, Pittsburgh. She was a part-time teacher at Elk County Christian High School while serving her community at St. Joseph Monastery as Vocation, Affiliate and Postulant Directress before becoming a full-time English and theology teacher at Elk County for 15 years. After serving as the community's sub-prioress from 1995-1996, Sister Kathleen retired from teaching. From 1996-1999, Sister Kathleen served in pastoral ministry at St. Anthony's Parish, Sheffield, as an RCIA instructor and Religious Education Coordinator. In 1999, she returned to the monastery in St. Marys and served in the ministry of hospitality, spirituality and formation. At the time of her death, Sister Kathleen was engaged in the ministry of prayer and presence at Mount St. Benedict.
She is survived by her Erie Benedictine community, the sisters from her community of origin (St. Joseph Monastery, St. Marys), good friends Sabra and Joe Pasky and Father Michael Ferrick, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sister Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents as well as her siblings: her brother, Laverne Warner; her sisters, Monica Huntz and Anita Winters; and her step-sisters, Elizabeth (Philipps) Young and Jean (Philipps) Conklin.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Kathleen Warner, OSB, will be held Wednesday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery.
Interment will be Thursday, March 31 at 8:15 a.m. in Trinity Cemetery.
Services will take place at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 29 from 2-7 p.m. and Wednesday, March 30 from 2-5 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, 6101 East Lake Rd., Erie, Pa. 16511. Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory, Pine Avenue Branch, 845 East 38 St. is in charge of the arrangements.