Sacred Heart Academy - HeartBeat - Winter/Spring 2024

Dear alumnae, parents, and friends of SHA,

Leading a campus with such an engaged and faith-filled community is a blessing.

Whether you’re at Interlude, enjoying our Champions Day at Churchill Downs, attending Alumnae Awards, or committing your time to help our Valkyries become the next generation of female leaders, I am grateful for all you give to Sacred Heart Academy. I know the upcoming Alumnae Unite and Reunion Weekend events will also be successful. Know you are always welcome at SHA.

Together in Heart,

Dr. Karen McNay President, Sacred Heart Schools

From the Principal

Greetings, SHA community!

It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of another academic year, but it's amazing to see the growth of our students in just eight months. My administrative team and our dedicated faculty and staff set out this year to ensure all Valkyries knew their true value. Sending young women a message that they are unconditionally loved and already more than enough, when the world often tells them the opposite, has been the real highlight of this year. Their achievements are astounding, their leadership and service admirable, and their sisterhood is amazing…but seeing the confidence in their eyes and the joy in their smiles tells us as leaders that we are succeeding.

With gratitude, Dr. Tim Adams Principal, Sacred Heart Academy

ON THE COVER: Alumna of the Year, Beth Stegner Peabody ’79 (center) with SHA's 100 Club President, Lila Norris and President, Dr. Karen McNay. Inset: Maddy Peabody ’11 and Donna Bender Moir ’79 with Beth Stegner Peabody ’79

Alumnae Board 2023-2024

PRESIDENT Christie Leigh Mueller Wells ’02

VICE PRESIDENT Amy Helm Baker ’92

SECRETARY Maria Cowley Quinn ’05

If you are interested in giving back by joining the SHA Alumnae Board, please contact Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95 at mtheisen@shslou.org or 502.736.6408. To view all Board Members, visit sha.shslou.org/alumnae/

HeartBeat

2024

The Heartbeat is published twice a year for alumnae, parents and friends of Sacred Heart Academy by the Sacred Heart Schools Office of Marketing and Communications.

Please submit address changes to mtheisen@shslou.org. Information in this issue was received before March 1, 2024.

Congratulations to juniors Allison Conliffe and Mary Shea Ballantine of SHA (pictured left) and Gray Woodward and Addie Lynn of SHMS (below), recipients of the 2024 Ursuline Education Network Service Award for exemplifying St. Angela's teachings.

FROM THE

Alumnae Director

Megan Brumleve Theisen ‘95

Hello, Friends,

Happy Spring! I hope that you are experiencing the extraordinary beauty of new life with spring’s arrival, and that you are feeling renewal in the Easter season.

We're thrilled to announce that our Varsity basketball team and coach Donna Bender Moir ’79 made history on March 16, 2024, becoming the first high school team in Kentucky to win four consecutive state championships! Golf and Swim & Dive also won state championships this year! Congrats to our coaching staff and students-athletes!

Our alumnae continue to demonstrate outstanding leadership through various contributions to SHA, from the 2024 Alumnae Awards to mentoring opportunities on campus and in the community. Your involvement truly embodies a spirit of service. If you're interested in joining us, please reach out to me to explore how you can give back to SHA, too.

Beyond academic preparation, a hallmark of a Sacred Heart Academy experience is the enduring friendships formed here. One beautiful example exists in 1942 alumnae and class reps, Fran Giuglano Coady and Adele Klem Barry. I had the pleasure of meeting them in the summer of 2022 when they were celebrating their 80th class reunion! Adele passed away earlier this year and I have kept up with Fran, who will celebrate her 100th birthday July 3rd. While Fran and I may be a few years apart, our friendship is as meaningful as any I’ve been blessed with as a SHA alumna. I know many of you share similar stories, and I want to hear about them! Send us your heart hands photos from get-togethers with SHA sisters, and share them with me at mtheisen@shslou.org so we can feature your friendships online and in the HeartBeat!

Speaking of celebrating friendships, I hope those of you in the classes ending in 4 and 9 will mark your calendars for Reunion Weekend 2024, May 31 and June 1. Visit sha.shslou.org/reunion-weekend/ or scan the code for details and make plans to join us… invitations arriving soon!

Sacred Heart Model School (SHMS) and Sacred Heart Academy alumnae! SHMS is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024-2025! Help us ensure we can keep you apprised of all events surrounding the 100th by updating your contact information using the QR code. This will also enable you to opt into the monthly alumnae e-newsletter, The Horn, if you are not receiving it. This communication provides real-time news from campus so don’t miss out!

UPCOMING EVENTS!

April 16-18 – Alumnae Unite

July 29 – SHA Golf Scramble

August 1 – Revive the Ties – Celebrating current students & Alumnae Mothers/Grandmothers

September 18 – SHA Career Day

February 6, 2025 – SHA Alumnae Awards

March 1, 2025 – Sacred Heart Schools Interlude

I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all of the alumnae who helped make our Interlude wine tower a huge success this year, bringing in $10,000 in support of Sacred Heart Schools! Thank you to Michele Oberst ’80 and Abby Buehner ’18 and all of our alumnae sisters who contributed to this signature auction item. To all alumnae who give so generously to SHA in so many different ways, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for representing to our current and future Valkyries – and to one another – what it means to serve the needs of others and Lead with Heart.

Forever a Valkyrie, Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95

Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95 and Fran Giuglano Coady ’42.Photo credit Nancy O’Neill Meiers ’87.

STUDENT & FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

SHA brought back the Beach Party this year.

127 juniors and seniors were inducted into Sacred Heart's Cor Jesu Chapter of the National Honor Society, bringing the total members of the current student body to 208 Valkyries.

Ten students traveled to Belize over fall break on a service immersion trip with Ms. Lauren Hitron, Director of the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute and Hand in Hand Ministries, to build a house for a mother and her teen children.

SHA Campus Ministry hosted a meaningful service activity where students painted pots and planted violets for Nazareth Home residents.

Valkyries joined students from Trinity High School and Mercy Academy for Mass and the KY Walk for Life in Frankfort, KY.

All Valkyries received a St. Angela sticker from our Office of Catholic Identity and Ursuline Charism to celebrate her feast day on January 27th.

Senior Isabel Gonzalez, received the Father John H. Morgan scholarship from the Catholic Education Foundation of Louisville.

SHA won its 12th consecutive KHSAA Swim and Dive championship, 35th in program history!

History Made! SHA Basketball won an unprecedented fourth straight KHSAA State Championship. State Champion Golf Team

Twelve art students won 25 Scholastic Art and Writing Award regional awards, one of the nation's most competitive and prestigious high school art competitions!

Gold Key (pictured above): Calla Wissing, Maya Rawlins, Ella Risimini, Maggie Smith, Chloe Baker (2)

Silver Key: Calla Wissing (2), Maya Rawlins, Ella Risimini, Maggie Smith (2), Chloe Baker (3)

Honorable Mention: Allyson O'Bryan, Ella Risimini, Eva Carias (2), Madi Cox, Lucia Rodriguez Agusti (2), Abby Potter, Margaret Wright, Liu Barmore.

Congratulations to the 33 students from the Class of 2028 named Angela Merici Scholars earning a renewable four-year scholarship to SHA.

We are so excited to welcome over 200 Valkyries to the Class of 2028.

This year, SHA sent 96 Valkyries to the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) and over 100 to the Kentucky United Nations Assembly (KUNA).

We love SHA traditions. Especially the fatherdaughter dance, where seniors wear their prom dresses!

Seniors enjoyed the special SHA tradition of a Christmas Senior Prom.

Marybeth Lewis, Eliza Boland, Alice Calabrese, Caylen Judd, Audrey Huber, and Sarah Lewis performed in the prestigious University of Louisville School of Music Honor Choir.

Sacred Heart's National Merit Semifinalists

Christine Very, Lena Fultz, and Sam Koch have been named Finalists and are now eligible for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Awards.

SHA senior Amelie Beck (pictured here with her sister Anna Maria Beck ’17 and Addie Meiners ’15) and her cousin, Jacqueline Teague ’23, founders of VaxConnectKY, were honored at the 46th annual WLKY Bell Awards.

Mayor Greenberg honored Juniors Reese Anderson and Alexis Loveless with the 2023 Youth Character Award and scholarship for their service and advocacy. Photographed with faculty member Jennifer Muller ’00.

SHAPING the Future

More than 75 alumnae and friends returned to Dear Sacred Heart for our annual Career Day! This year, SHA dedicated an entire day for juniors and seniors to learn from the SHA College Counseling Department and Jean Frazier Leadership Institute and network with Sacred Heart alumnae.

To kick off this exciting day, students took an assessment to determine their strengths and goals. Then, they visited alumnae presentations on banking/finance, government/public policy, graphic design, marketing, real estate, medicine, law school, medical school, FBI, healthcare, insurance, nursing, sports administration, physical therapy, interior design, and more. Students also gathered for presentations on financial literacy and choosing a college major.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Forever Valkyries, who generously devoted part of their day to guiding our current students. Your contributions significantly impact our Valkyries, helping them succeed in college and beyond. Your professional journeys and insights, particularly your comments on balancing professional success and personal fulfillment, are invaluable in shaping the bright futures of our Valkyries.

LEARNING and LEADING

The Jean Frazier Leadership Institute and the SHA Alumnae Association hosted the second annual Lead with Heart Leadership Luncheon. Part of the Lucy Lee Helm ’75 Leadership Pillar, the luncheon is an opportunity for 70 junior Frazier Fellows to network with nearly 60 alumnae and community leaders. Students and local leaders alike were riveted during the keynote address by Dr. Valerie Briones-Pryor ’93 (pictured top left with Lauren Hitron ’99, Director of the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute and director of Alumnae Relations, Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95). She is currently the Chief Medical Officer for UofL Health Shelbyville Hospital, a hospitalist and the Medical Director of the Hospital Medicine Service Line for UofL Health, and the Chair of Greater Louisville Medical Society. Dr. Val talked about her impressive medical career and her love for family and stressed that career ambitions and accomplishments rarely form a straight line in life.

Lauren Hitron ’99, director of the Jean Frazier Leadership Institute, says that "the Lead with Heart luncheon is a perfect example of how JFLI provides authentic, unique opportunities beyond the classroom for our students." Seated at tables with women who are leaders in their careers and communities, our students were able to have even deeper conversations than on our traditional Career Day while practicing their networking and communication skills and building meaningful connections. Sacred Heart is so grateful for our leaders who impacted our students, shared their leadership journeys, and proved once again that there is nothing quite like the SHA Sisterhood. Our Valkyries are prepared to Lead with Heart!

A Class Above

CELEBRATING THE 2024 SACRED HEART ACADEMY ALUMNAE AWARDS

In February, family, friends, classmates, co-workers, mentors, current students, Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, and Sacred Heart Schools trustees gathered at Bellarmine University to celebrate our ten distinguished honorees at the 2024 Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae Awards dinner.

Our Alumna of the Year, Beth Stegner Peabody ’79 was a true champion athlete at SHA. She was named "Kentucky Field Hockey Player of the Year" by The Courier-Journal. She came off the bench as a freshman with her friend Donna Bender (Moir) in the 1976 state championship game helping lead the Valkyries to victory. She excelled academically and athletically at the University of Pennsylvania and is currently the CEO and CIO of Stegner Investment Associates, Inc. Beth has received many awards, including the 2021 Louisville Business First “Enterprising Woman” award. She is a former Louisville Olmstead Parks Conservancy, Thomas Merton Foundation, and Anchal Project board member. Beth served as a Sacred Heart Schools

trustee and has been inducted into the Valkyrie Hall of Fame twice: for her individual athletic accomplishments and as a member of the groundbreaking 1976 state champion basketball team. Beth has been a SHA supporter as a parent, basketball coach, volunteer, and in recent years as a Career Day presenter, co-founder, and judge for Heart Tank.

Heart Awards

Michele Oberst ’80 cherishes the Ursuline foundation of living a life of faith, family, and service. She is an active SHA alumna, serving as a class rep, a reunion planner, and an Alumnae Board member. Her tireless efforts for Interlude (including the amazing wine tower) have raised tens of thousands of dollars to benefit students on campus. Michele puts her heart into every volunteer effort she undertakes, serving on multiple boards such as the Kentucky Derby Festival, Gilda’s Club, the Fillies, and the Association of the Louisville Orchestra.

1. Maddie Peabody ’11 and Beth Stegner Peabody ’79 and family 2. Sister Jean Anne Zappa and Kim Davis ’91 3. Michele Oberst ’80 and family

4. Dr. Karen McNay, Dr. Tim Adams, Jana King, Christie Leigh Mueller Wells ’02, and Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95

5. Jenni McMillon Garner ’92 and Tom Garner and family 6. Devanny Kuhn Boisvert ’08 and family 7. Donna Bender Moir ’79 and Krisha Byron ’03

8. Kristin Matula ’13 and Carolyn Matula ’78

For Jenni McMillon Garner ’92 and her husband Tom, volunteering became a way of life as their daughters, Lily ’19 and Gracie ’22, made their way through SHA. Their other daughters, Abby, Claire, and Olivia are all current and future Valkyries. Jenni has been actively involved with the Parent Association since 2015, serving as co-vice president and soon-to-be co-president. She also co-chairs the Braveheart Lacrosse Tournament, one of the SHA Athletic Department’s largest fundraisers. Tom is the SHA Athletic Booster president, is active in the lacrosse program, was instrumental in helping the athletic department purchase new bleachers, and helped make the gym’s large video board a reality.

Recipient of the Ursuline Teaching Legacy Award, Kim Davis ’91 graduated from SHA and earned degrees from Bellarmine College and Boise State before returning home to Louisville, where she has dedicated her career to teaching at Catholic schools. She is an enthusiastic instructor who brings real-world, holistic experiences to her students in business, communication, and technology. She spearheaded the creation of SHA’s innovative “Heart Tank” competition, where students compete as young entrepreneurs in front of high-level local executives. Kim has an unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence, moral development, and spiritual growth for her students, especially as a senior retreat leader.

As a teacher at SHA for 31 years, Jana King has served as SHA’s Academic Council department chair for 25 years and was the founder of SHA’s Learning Differences Program in 1996. Outside the classroom, she dove into extracurricular activities at SHA as the dance team and 100 Club moderator. She also frequently helps with Student Council, the Student Advisory Board, the Red Cross Blood Drive, and SHA’s culinary and future medical clubs. She also holds the honor of choreographing all the faculty flash mob dances at pep rallies. Jana received her teaching degrees from the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky. She is married to Mark King and has two children, Shelby (SHA ’10) and Connor, and is a proud grandmother and now the recipient of the Honorary SHA Diploma.

Valkyrie Hall of Fame

Krisha Byron ’03 helped turn Valkyrie basketball into a state-wide powerhouse, winning three straight state championships from 20022004. Krisha was one of the best pure shooters in SHA history and earned the nickname “Money” for making clutch shots at critical moments. Krisha later earned a degree in social work from the University of Louisville and has had profound impacts on Louisville's youth through her career working with Child Protective Services and JCPS.

Devanny Kuhn Boisvert ’08 led the Valkyries to a 26-0 record and two state titles in field hockey in 2006-2007. She was selected as Kentucky’s first Miss Field Hockey in 2007. The Valkyries were ranked #2 in the nation during her senior year. As a student at Ball State, she was field hockey team captain and earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors. Devanny returned to SHA to coach the JV field hockey team for two seasons before coaching Division 1 field hockey at Bellarmine University. She was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2021.

Maddie Peabody ’11 was a double athletic threat at SHA. Maddie was SHA’s two-time all-state soccer goalkeeper and three-time soccer state championship team member. She was a four-time soccer academic all-state honoree, served as captain, and was named MVP of the 2009 state tournament. She also played four years of varsity basketball. She was named SHA Athlete of the Year in 2010 and 2011 and went on to play D-1 basketball at Lafayette College. Maddie was named Miss Sacred Heart in 2011.

Kristin Matula ’13 was a rare 3-sport athlete at SHA, earning 12 letters in track and field, basketball, and field hockey. She won the 2011 state championship in the 300-meter hurdles, was a 4-year varsity basketball player, and led SHA’s field hockey team to two state championships. She was named the 2012 Miss Kentucky Field Hockey. She played field hockey at Michigan State University, and was team captain and Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Kristin is now the lead assistant field hockey coach at American University in Washington, DC. where she has helped guide her D-1 team to two Patriot League titles and two Sweet 16 NCAA appearances.

This event cannot happen without the support and direction of alumnae, including Alumnae Board President, Christie Leigh Mueller Wells ’02, event co-chairs Judy Watson Gordon ’76 and Caroline South Schiller ’10, and Alumnae Director Megan Brumleve Theisen ’95.

Jana King with fellow SHA faculty.

Judy Gordon ’76 and Fr. Jim Flynn ’23 Honorary Diploma

Jada McIntyre ’25

Giving thanks

THE 2023 LAUREL AWARD AND SACRED HEART SOCIETY CELEBRATION

Last October, on the eve of Sacred Heart Schools' 146th birthday celebration, the Ursuline campus community gathered at The Olmsted to celebrate the incredible generosity of our Sacred Heart Society members.

We are truly grateful to over 360 Sacred Heart Society members in Louisville and throughout the country who have been called to contribute to the legacy of Sacred Heart and ensure that current students benefit from the transformative power of a Sacred Heart education.

The annual Laurel Award honors a member of the Sacred Heart Schools community whose commitment is strong, deep-rooted, and wide-branched. Peg and Steve Diebold, former Sacred Heart

Academy parents, were named recipients of the 2023 Laurel Award. In his touching remarks, Steve shared that their "support for this remarkable institution has been guided by our shared belief that quality education grounded in the Catholic faith and supported by the school’s core values of Reverence, Service, Leadership, and Community, are the cornerstones of a thriving society. Blending the challenge of educational rigor, extracurricular excellence, and Sacred Heart’s core values, is a winning formula for the development of young women who will eventually become family and community leaders."

It was a wonderful evening of celebrating Sacred Heart Schools’ inspiring legacy and bright future in educating the leaders of tomorrow in the Ursuline tradition.

Peg and Steve Diebold with Dr. Karen McNay

Like Mother, like daughter...

Sacred Heart Academy has a long tradition of mother/daughter alumnae who carry on the spirit of SHA throughout their lives. The HeartBeat is excited to showcase a dynamic mother/daughter trio you might recognize.

Clara Passafiume Fultz ’84 was active in academic clubs and the foreign language club at Sacred Heart.

“When I think of my time at Sacred Heart, I think about the outstanding education I received from teachers, including Sr. Lorna, Fr. Wagner and Fr. Butler,” said Clara. “They prepared us with a solid foundation grounded in faith and Sacred Heart continues that tradition today.”

Clara became a corporate attorney, first practicing in a firm in mergers and acquisitions and securities law. She then became the corporate attorney and Corporate Secretary for a publicly traded company. “I was fortunate in my career to work for a firm and then a company that gave me the flexibility to work a reduced schedule while I raised my four children,” she said. “I retired in 2020 to be more available to my parents and to pursue charitable activities. I currently chair the board of Nazareth Home, a Catholic nonprofit long-term care facility. It is particularly important to me that we care for many retired religious sisters.”

Her daughters, Mary Klarer ’20 and Lena ’24 continue the SHA tradition of academic excellence rooted in service work. Mary Klarer was a full IB (International Baccalaureate) student and was very involved in choir and musical theater at SHA. She graduates from Wake Forest University this spring and has accepted a consulting position in Cincinnati.

Lena, a SHA IB senior, is active in the Y Club, the newspaper, and academic teams and has a leadership role in KUNA. She proudly received a perfect score on her ACT and was named a National Merit Finalist along with her classmates, Christine Very and Sam Koch. They are now eligible for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Awards.

Service work is important to Lena. In January, she planned for Sacred Heart Schools to host the Naturalization Proceedings of the United States District Court, helping welcome 78 new American citizens. Presided over by The Honorable Benjamin Beaton, the welcomed candidates hailed from 28 different nationalities. SHA's Madrigals sang the Star-Spangled Banner to begin the ceremony, and Sacred Heart Preschool students welcomed guests with beautiful signs.

Lena said her involvement with SHA's Y Club "increased my interest in civic engagement, and I thought it would be a powerful opportunity for the Sacred Heart community." She added, "I found the listing of the different represented countries very impactful because, to me, it displayed the pride and respect the new citizens held for their former countries as they transitioned to becoming US citizens."

“Mary Klarer and Lena’s activities at Sacred Heart have been great opportunities to improve their public speaking and leadership skills,” said Clara. “We chose Sacred Heart for our daughters because we wanted them to be in a Catholic School. Our Catholic faith is the most important thing in our lives. Our family has been involved with the creation of the new chapel at Sacred Heart Academy and the restoration of the Motherhouse Chapel.”

Clara and her sister, Lucy Passafiume Hajare ’79, also established a scholarship in honor of Sister Lorna Weiler. “Sister Lorna taught us both and played a particularly important role in helping Lucy finish high school after a very serious illness her senior year at SHA,” said Clara. “She also encouraged Lucy to pursue a career in STEM, and Lucy went on to run a global business for EXXON. Lena also plans to study in a STEM field. Our scholarship fund will help a STEMminded student who desires a Catholic high school education with that same opportunity.”

Mary Klarer ’20, Lena ’24, and Clara Passafiume Fultz ’84.

THANK YOU to all of our sponsors and donors for a RECORD-BREAKING $806,000 raised. THE MACKIN FAMILY • REDTAG BROWN-FORMAN CORPORATION DALE, DONNA, JEREMY & AMANDA GETTELFINGER

CENTURY ENTERTAINMENT & FURNISHINGS • LOUISVILLE BUSINESS FIRST • LOUISVILLE PAVING AND CONSTRUCTION

MCCARTHY STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS • THE MCMAHAN GROUP • MERCEDES-BENZ AND SPRINTER OF LOUISVILLE

PERRONE WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP • ELIZABETH C. WOHLLEB, SHA CLASS OF 1995 • YUM! BRANDS, INC.

BYERLY FORD NISSAN, INC. • CHERRY BEKAERT ADVISORY LLC • DELTA DENTAL OF KENTUCKY • ID+A | MILLERKNOLL ISCO INDUSTRIES LLC • NORTON HEALTHCARE • RAELEE REALTY LLC • STATE BEAUTY SUPPLY OF LOUISVILLE

STEGNER INVESTMENT ASSOCIATES • URSULINE SISTERS OF LOUISVILLE • WHITEHOUSE RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PAINTING CO. AND ALL OUR TABLE SPONSORS

Alumnae Unite is a micro-campaign designed to increase alumnae giving across the Archdiocese of Louisville. Sacred Heart, Assumption, Bethlehem, Holy Cross (Angela Merici), Mercy, and Presentation are working to raise awareness about giving back! Alumnae Unite is 60 hours of giving with the goal of each school reaching 20% participation in their Annual Fund.

Here come the brides !

Ursuline Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Reopens For Weddings

For a time in the past, many lucky brides were married in the treasured Ursuline Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, located in the Ursuline Motherhouse on campus. The chapel has been closed to weddings since the mid-2000s but following an extensive renovation of the 106-year-old landmark, wedding bells are ringing again.

Annie Shearn Noe ’10 recently married Brandon Noe at the Chapel. “I couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else,” she said. “It is a very special place to our family.”

Annie’s family has a long history on campus, dating to the 1920s. “SHA and the Ursuline campus have always been extremely special places for myself and my family,” she said. “We all grew up going to Christmas Mass at the Chapel with the sisters, because my greatgrandmother (Rosa Lee Amshoff Miranda ’23), grandmother (Jane Miranda Elpers ’55), great aunt (Barbara Miranda ’53), mom (Beeps Elpers Shearn ’78), aunts, and cousins all volunteered on campus.”

Bridesmaids included Lauren Peter ’10, Lizzie Ramsey Garr ’10, Hilary Borgmeier Combs ’10, Allie Iceman Netherton ’10, Lindsay Gahm Gutgsell ’10, Meredith Boling ’10, Chrissie Diebold Shearn ’09, and Sydney Shearn Vandenberg ’15. Annie’s sister, Sydney, was married at the Chapel a few years ago.

The Chapel is already booking weddings into 2025. Brides must be an alumna of either SHA or SHMS, or the groom can be an alum of SHMS. Professional wedding coordinators will help manage the ceremony details. With the rental of the Chapel, brides have access to bride’s and groom’s rooms for preparing for the big day, and assistance with coordination of their rehearsal and vendor set-up for the wedding.

Built in 1917 as part of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville’s original Motherhouse, the Chapel has served students and alumni for decades. It was closed for a major $1 Million renovation in 2022 and reopened last autumn. “The Chapel is one of the most important and sacred spaces on our campus,” said Dr. Karen McNay, president of Sacred Heart Schools. “The Ursuline Sisters entrusted us with this cherished part of their campus, and the restoration project ensures the Chapel will endure for another 100 years.”

Renovations included detailed painting throughout, including the interior of the six-story chapel dome. Project costs were funded by donors, and SHA alumnae Amy Montgomery Bergeron ’94 and Anna Cristofoli Tatman ’78 were tapped to complete the renovation. Bergeron owns Whitehouse Residential & Commercial Painting and was named lead project manager for the renovation. Tatman, of Rosa Mosaics & Tile Company, served as the flooring contractor.

“I thought the Chapel was beautiful before the renovations, but we were totally blown away by the work and details that were enhanced during the remodel,” said Annie. “I felt very special being one of the first brides since the remodel.”

Her mom, Beeps Elpers Shearn ’77 agreed. “Annie’s wedding was so perfect,” she said. “The Chapel holds a special place in my heart as well as everyone in my family. My grandmother lived/boarded in this same building, and it was just like home for all of us. I believe my granddaughter will grow up loving and appreciating how special Sacred Heart and the Ursuline campus is for life.”

If you are interested in reserving the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception for your wedding, contact chapel wedding planners Madonna Burke: motherhouseweddings@gmail.com and Pam Catlett: P.catlett@icloud.com

The Ursuline Connection

Over the past year, the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville have sadly lost several beloved members who are well known to alumnae and the community. Their losses were felt deeply, and we pray for the Ursuline Sisters and treasure the memories of lives well lived.

Sister Martha Buser, SHA 1949

January 21, 1931—November 18, 2023

The Ursuline community lost a giant in the passing of Sister Martha (Olga) Buser, O.S.U., age 92, who died in the 73rd year of her religious life on November 18, 2023. She was a well-loved presence on campus and in the community, and was a published author, blogger, spiritual leader, and remained active in her ministries until recently. In her final blog, written shortly before her passing, Sister Martha stated, “I am looking for new possibilities, new horizons.”

Sister Martha was an alumna of Sacred Heart Model School and Sacred Heart Academy and joined the Ursuline Sisters in 1950. She taught in Louisville at Saint Leo, Sacred Heart Academy, and Ursuline Academy. She also was on the faculty of Catholic schools in Nebraska, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. She founded the Angela Prayer Center in Louisville, and served as its director. Sister Martha became an instructor in the Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of the Permanent Diaconate and was appointed director—the first woman to hold that position. She served as the first director of the Angela Merici Center for Spirituality, sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville. Sister Martha was also involved in formation for the Ursuline Associates and was active in her parish at St. John Paul II. Sister Martha was named 2007 Sacred Heart Academy Alumnae of the Year and received the Distinguished Service Award from Wayside Christian Mission.

Sister Rose Ann Muller

June 16, 1932—October 19, 2023

Ursuline Sister of Louisville Rose Ann (Mary Luke) Muller, O.S.U. age 91, died in the 67th year of her religious life on October 19, 2023. A native of Evansville, IN, and graduate of Mater Dei West HS, she entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1956.

Sister Rose Ann taught in Louisville at St. Raphael the Archangel, St. Elizabeth, and St. Joseph and at Ursuline College. She was principal of Pope John XIII School in Indiana, and taught at schools in Nebraska and Mississippi. She was a pastoral minister, and was co-coordinator of the Marian Home on the Ursuline Campus.

Sister Anne Mary Lochner, SHA 1961

September 30, 1943—September 21, 2023

Sister Anne Mary Lochner, O.S.U. age 79, died on September 21, 2023. She entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1961 after graduation from Sacred Heart Academy. She was currently serving as vice president of the Ursuline Sisters Leadership Team. She had previously served the Ursuline Sisters as vice president from 2002-2008 and as vocation director.

Sister Anne Mary taught at St. Elizabeth, St. George, and St. Raphael in Louisville. She then moved into parish ministry, serving as the director of religious education at the former St. Mary Parish, Maryville, KY. Sister Anne Mary served as the first director of Project Women, now called Family Scholar House. Project Women was founded by a group of women religious congregations in the Archdiocese of Louisville to help single, homeless women with children obtain an education. Following that, Sister Anne Mary worked in Immigration Legal Services with Catholic Charities of Louisville.

Sister Judith Rice, SHA 1962

December 9, 1944—August 4, 2023

Generations of Sacred Heart Academy alumnae fondly remember Sister Judith (John Mary) Rice, O.S.U., 78, who died August 4, 2023. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1962 and entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1964.

Sister Judith served a combined 44 years as teacher and administrator at both Angela Merici High School and Sacred Heart Academy. Sister Judith also served as vocation coordinator for the Ursuline Community, as vice-president of the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and held the position of director of Mission Effectiveness for Sacred Heart Schools on the Ursuline Campus. Sister Judith was the recipient of the first Saint Angela Award for SHA. She was one of six Catholic school teachers from the Archdiocese of Louisville selected for the Center for Educational Leadership’s Teacher Leaders Class. Sister Judith was presented the Alumna of the Year Award by Sacred Heart Academy in 2008, and was honored with the Francesconi Award of Integrity for her more than 45 years of service to Sacred Heart Schools.

Sister Mary Lee Hansen

May 30, 1933—February 1, 2023

Sister Mary Lee (Concepta Marie) Hansen, O.S.U. age 89, died on February 1, 2023. She entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1957 and celebrated her 60th jubilee in 2017. Sister Mary Lee taught at Our Mother of Sorrows, Saint Raphael, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Sacred Heart Model School.

Sister Mary Lee was also on the faculties of schools in Nebraska, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. Beginning in 1974, Sister served the Ursuline Sisters as the director of communications and then as an administrative assistant to the Leadership Team until 2005. Sister Mary Lee also enjoyed calligraphy, painting watercolors and photography.

Sister Mary Denis West

December 18, 1928—March 4, 2024

Sister Mary Denis (Ruby Mae) West, O.S.U, age 95, died on March 4, 2024, in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Mary Denis converted to Catholicism while a student at Ursuline Academy. She entered the Ursuline order and graduated from Ursuline College. She began teaching elementary grades at Saint Raphael the Archangel, and continued at Our Mother of Sorrows, Saint Helen, Holy Trinity, Saint Clement, Saint Timothy, and Saint Elizabeth. She also taught at parish schools in Maryland and South Carolina. Later, she assisted residents of the former Marian Home and Ursuline Motherhouse, Sacred Heart Home (now Nazareth Home-Clifton), Elder Serve, and Baptist Health East. Sister Mary Denis also founded a support group for those with Spasmodic Torticollis (ST), a neck disorder from which she suffered. She received The National Spasmodic Torticollis Association’s Leadership Award.Torticollis Association’s Leadership Award in 1998.

Alumnae

Adele Clem Barry ’42, died January 14, 2024.

Janet Crowe Berger ’67, died September 23, 2023.

INMemory

Leslie Casper Bizot ’61, mother of Suzanne Bizot Gorman ’91, grandmother of Kaitlin Calvery ’22 and sister of Cheryl Casper Dunlap ’63, Denise Casper Chickey ’66, Ellen Casper McDermott ’68, Loretto Casper ’70 and Clarice Casper ’70, died July 8, 2023.

Maureen Driscoll Blum ’56, sister of Joan Driscoll Nelson ’58 (dec), died November 27, 2023.

Sr. Martha Buser ’49, sister of Olga Buser Smith ’41 (dec), died November 18, 2023.

Patricia Schimpeler Chervenak ’49, mother of Claudia Chervenak McCrocklin ’84 and grandmother of Mariah McCrocklin ’11, died January 23, 2024.

Mary Jo Lankswert Cohen ’62, died December 7, 2023.

Mary Jude Rulander Carey Constable ’54, sister of Suzanne Rulander Ronniger ’64, died January 18, 2024.

Dorothy Cushing ’55, died July 6, 2022.

Sandra Struck Dougherty ’81, daughter of Lollly Thornbury Struck ’57 (dec), mother of Megan Dougherty ’12 and sister of Amy Struck Hinkebein ’80, died July 29, 2023.

Suzi Chester Slye-Elasik ’56, died September 7, 2023.

Connie Westerman Emmerich ’56, died January 4, 2024.

Marsha “Sissie” Gathof Henderson ’61, sister of Blanche Gathof Kitchen ’58, died September 2, 2023.

Mary Anne Powell Jewell ’58, died October 26, 2023.

Elaine Goehringer ’54, sister of Sherilyn Goehringer Lawson ’64, died July 9, 2023.

Sara Sailor Herring ’62, sister of Margie Sailor Gold ’57 and Jane Sailor Morton ’59, died December 27, 2023.

Janet Jacobs ’72, sister of Jill Jacobs ’71, died October 26, 2023.

Wendi Schmetzer Johns ’93, mother of Hayli Johns ’27, sister of Jill Schmetzer Lynch ’84 and Heidi Schmetzer Richardson ’87, died December 24, 2023.

We continue to honor the lives of those SHA community members who have lost a loved one. Please visit our website via this QR code to view the full listing of Family Memorials.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Doris Boland Jones ’49, mother of Colleen Jones Underhill ’74, Betsy Jones ’75, Anne Jones Nash ’86, Nancy Jones Fallon ’88 and grandmother of Jordan Underhill King ’04 and Channing Underhill Flaherty ’06, died July 20, 2023.

Mary Sherman Krebs ’58, mother of Suzanne Krebs Hidgon ’82, Mary Laura Krebs Ricker ’84 and Jennifer Krebs Rachimel ’90, died Ocober 10, 2023.

Virginia Eifler Livingston ’50, died January 27, 2024.

Dinah Wright Lohmeier ’71, died February 7, 2024.

Kellie McVeigh McQueen ’05, sister of Brooke McVeigh Mugavin ’03, died November 3, 2023.

Erin Murphy Morris ’05, died August 18, 2023.

Carole Pohl ’68, died August 4, 2023.

Sr. Judith Rice ’62, sister of Sandra Rice Foss ’64, died August 4, 2023.

Katherine Louisa “Weda” Riehm ’58, mother of Katherine Mapother ’87, Amy Mapother ’92 and sister of Joan Riehm (dec.) ’63, died September 4, 2023.

Diane Deckel Rosenthall ’59, died April 16, 2023.

Martha Bawel Sheehy ’47, died September 29, 2023.

Mary Jane Smith ’62, sister of Sheila Smith Collins’ 57 and Maureen Smith Ackley ’72, died August 9, 2023.

Catherine “Cat” Bowling Tomes ’90, sister of Marcia Bowling ’84 and Brittany Bowling Brohm ’88, died October 4, 2023.

Jane Flanagan Toepke ’60, sister of Kathy Flanagan Burke ’63, died December 31, 2023.

Helen “Kay” Horton Tronzo ’67, sister of Sharron Horton Reynolds ’63, Patti Horton ’66, Mary Ann Horton Shu ’67, and Debbie Horton Benoit ’69, died February 19, 2024.

Jackie Wolford ’70, died January 24, 2024.

Clara Weidemer Zoeller ’48, sister of Martha Wiedemer Martin (dec) ’48, died January 23, 2024.

If you would like to make a gift in memory of a classmate, family member or classmate’s family member, please call 502.896.8681.

You may also send a check, payable to “Sacred Heart Academy” to Sacred Heart Schools

Office of Institutional Advancement 3115 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40206

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