In Memoriam: Sister Mary Victor Kercher
Sister Mary Victor Kercher of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana, died at 9:35 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023, at the monastery. She was born Loretta Emma Kercher on March 13, 1926 in Evansville, Indiana, the sixth of ten children of John and Catherine (Beckerle) Kercher. She entered the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand in 1943 from St. Joseph Parish and made her monastic vows in 1945.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Esther Anne (Kercher) and brother-in-law James Fraser; her brother Lawrence John and sister-in-law Jette (Kaiser) Kercher; her brother Robert Frederich and sister-in-law Marjorie Louise (Schaich) Kercher; her sister Ruth Florence (Kercher) and brother-in-law Walter William Hillenbrand; her brother Victor Fred and sister-in-law Carolyn L. (Schulze) Kercher; her sister Jeanne Anne (Kercher) and brother-in-law Harold Albert Guetling; her brother John Fred Kercher; her sister Eileen Cecilia (Kercher) and brother-in-law Paul “Pete” Alphonse Weinzapfel; her brother-in-law Andrew Zurba; and her brother-in-law Herman J. Seibert. She is survived by her sister Charlotte Marie (Kercher) Zurba; her sister Marian Theresa (Kercher) Seibert; nieces, nephews; and her religious family.
Sister Mary Victor earned a Bachelor’s degree from St. Benedict College, and Master’s degrees from Notre Dame University and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.. She taught elementary students in Washington, Indianapolis and Columbus, Indiana; high school students at Mater Dei High School in Evansville; and was Principal of St. Ferdinand High School in Ferdinand for nine years. A missionary at Monasterio Reina de Paz in Coban, Guatemala, for 14 years, she spent a year at the Hope Community Program in Little Falls, MN, and later served as its Director. She taught Spanish at Marian College in Indianapolis; and served in Pastoral Care at St. Agnes Parish in Evansville and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Milford, also serving as Diocesan Liaison for Hispanic Ministry during that time. She served as Assistant Director of Hispanic Ministry in Dale, Indiana. At the monastery, she was on the Oblate Team and Coordinator of Mission Appealsm and in Prayer Ministry. In 2020, she celebrated 75 years as a Sister of St. Benedict.
Public visitation will be held in Marian Parlor at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana, on Monday, January 23 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. and in the monastery church on Tuesday, January 24 from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. A Vigil Service will be held in the monastery church on Monday, January 23 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will held on Tuesday, January 24 at 4:00 p.m. with burial in the monastic cemetery following services. The public may view the Monday Vigil Service and Tuesday Funeral Mass at funeral.thedome.org. Becher Funeral Home in Ferdinand is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.