Sister Mary Ethelbert

In an earlier post, I was searching for an obituary for Sr Inez. I thought I would look up ay other (possibly forgotten) teachers.

I found one notable teacher. This teacher is actually one of our more unforgettable teachers: Sister Mary Agnes. Now that name "Mary Agnes" does not ring a bell to the St Paul School alums, but we actually knew her by another name, Sister Mary Ethelbert. Many of you will remember her as the 4th grade teacher at St Paul. What happened is when the Mercy Order of Nuns changed order rules, they allowed the sisters to use their real names instead of their given name at the time of their final vows. Most opted to keep the same name, but a few like St Ethelbert opted to return to their given at birth name.

Of course to her students in 4th grade at St Paul, she will always be Sr Mary Ethelbert.


Sister Mary Agnes HOBBS
Age 91
Nashville, TN

Sister Mary Agnes HOBBS died on October 15, 2004 at Mercy Convent. Mary Agnes was born in Johnson City, TN, on May 14, 1913, the youngest of 13 children born to Florence and George Hobbs. At an early age Mary Agnes and her family moved to Baltimore, MD, where she received her early education. Sister Mary Agnes entered the Sisters of Mercy in Dubuque, Iowa on August 8, 1933 and made Profession of Vows on March 12, 1936. She received her professional education at Siena College and Memphis State University in Memphis and Notre Dame College in Maryland. Sister spent 50 years of teaching and administration in the Parochial Schools of the Diocese of Nashville. She taught in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Lawrenceburg and Elizabethton. Sister's retirement only gave her more time to work with those less fortunate - visiting the sick, feeding the hungry and helping L aotian families adjust to American life. She ministered at Holy Name Parish in their outreach programs to the needy. In 1995, Sister Mary Agnes was nominated for the Mary Catherine Strobel Award. Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her six brothers and six sisters. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.