Sr. Mary Paula Renne, SC, of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati died Feb. 10, 2019, at the age of 96 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility of the Sisters of Charity. Sister Mary Paula was born on Jan. 2, 1923, to Paul J. and Caroline (de Puydt) Renne in Mankato, Minnesota. She was the third of 10 children. She was a Sister of Charity for 75 years.

Sister Mary Paula grew up as part of a large family of faith in Big Rapids, Michigan; she attended a one-room public school and finished there in 1940. Following school she worked with the Sisters at Bon Secour Hospital in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, in the diet kitchen; from her experience of being around Sisters she began considering religious life. She contacted her aunt, Sister Louise Marie de Puydt, a Sister of Charity, who arranged for her to visit Sister Francis de Chantal in nearby Mount Clemens, Michigan. After several meetings with her she chose to enter the Congregation in September 1944.

Sister Mary Paula earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1959. Her ministries included 48 years as a primary and intermediate grade school teacher in her native Michigan, as well as Ohio and Illinois. She began at St. Mary, Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1945. The following year she went to St. Patrick, Cincinnati (1946-’49); then St. James, Bay City, Michigan (1949-’52 and 1970-‘72); St. Mel, Cleveland, Ohio (1952-’56); Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan (1956-’58 and 1960-’69); Holy Name, Cleveland, Ohio (1958-’60); and St. Robert, Flushing, Michigan (1969-’70). In 1972 Sister went to St. John Bosco, Parma Heights, Ohio, for one year before ministering at Holy Ghost, South Holland, Illinois (1973-’74) and St. Mary, Jackson, Michigan (1974-’79).  

It was in 1979 that Sister Mary Paula was asked to come to Elizabeth Seton High School, South Holland, Illinois, to serve as sacristan in the convent chapel; she remained there until 1983 when she worked in the reading lab at Guardian Angels, Detroit, Michigan. She went to Our Lady Queen of Peace, Harper Woods, Michigan, in 1987; next she chose to go to Sacred Heart, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1988-’90) and then to St. Michael, Remus, Michigan (1990-’93). She came to Seton High School convent, Cincinnati, to retire in 1994. Sister Mary Paula eventually moved to the Mount St. Joseph Motherhouse where she assisted with the distribution of mail and served where needed. In her leisure hours Sister enjoyed crossword puzzles, sewing, walking and gardening. It was important to her throughout her life to share faith and friendship with those who needed to be comforted or consoled.  She would often say that she “felt the support of a great community.”

Sister Mary Paula is survived by her brother Leo Renne and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters: Ann Yost, Louise Renne and Marian Stamper and brothers John, Lawrence, David, Peter and Walter Renne.

Sisters and family will greet visitors in the Heritage Room of the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse from 2 until 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 3 p.m. in the Motherhouse chapel. Burial will be in the Sisters of Charity cemetery.

Memorials can be made in Sister Mary Paula Renne’s name to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Rd., Mount St. Joseph, Ohio 45051.