Sister Mary Judeann

Sister Mary Judeann                 5761                  PDF Download

Rhea Mary LUEKEN

Immaculate Conception Province, USA

Date and Place of Birth:                September 16, 1942        Cincinnati, OH
Date and Place of Profession:      August 14, 1962               Covington, KY
Date and Place of Death:              November 5, 2023          Covington, KY
Date and Place of Burial:              November 10, 2023        Covington, KY

Rhea Mary Lueken was born into the loving family of Helen and Ferdinand Lueken as their fourth and youngest child. Rhea attended St. Martin School in Cheviot, Ohio, where she came to know the Sisters of Notre Dame.

At a young age Rhea felt called to give her life to God, and so she became an aspirant after the eighth grade, attending Notre Dame Academy. She entered the Congregation on February 2, 1960, made her first profession of vows in 1962, and then was assigned to teach primary grades at St. Joseph, Cold Spring, and St. Augustine School, Covington. After her final vows in 1967, Sister Mary Judeann pursued nursing education at Lexington Technical Institute and the University of Cincinnati.

Upon receiving her B.S.N., Sister ministered as staff nurse at St. Claire Health Care for three years and then at St. Charles Care Center as Director of Nursing. In 1977 Sister Judeann returned to St. Claire Health Care as Director of Nursing and served until 1998 as Vice President of Patient Services. During this time Sister obtained her master’s in nursing administration from the University of Kentucky. Sister Judeann continued to serve in health care until retiring in 2015.

In addition to health care, Sister Judeann was at times involved in community service, especially in administrative tasks, such as organizing the spiritual library, and distributing the daily mail. In January 2023 Sister Judeann moved to Lourdes Hall at the St. Charles Community campus.

Sister Judeann’s special way of living out her charism was her passion of simplicity, and to have God as the center of her life, sharing the love God gave her, so she could lead others to love him more. She will be forever remembered for her perseverance and for never surrendering to her health struggles but offering her difficulties to God, saying “One day at a time, Sweet Jesus.” Her strength was inspiring.

Let us all try to live as Sr. Mary Judeann did, surrendering to Jesus, asking him for help each day, one day at a time. May she now be embraced by the limitless love and peace of our good and gracious God.