Sr. Jane Ellen Kelly C.S.J.

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Sr. Jane Ellen Kelly, C.S.J. (Sr. Maureen Patrick), 89, passed away peacefully at her home in Kansas City on September 7, 2023.

Sr. Jane was born in 1934 in Ford City, Missouri to parents Patrick and Mary Kelly. Her devotion to the well-being of others began as a child and was best exemplified in her love and care of the animals of her family’s farm. She attended Maple Grove School and graduated from Mount St Scholastica Academy in Atchison, Kansas in 1952, followed by entrance into St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing.

In 1954, Jane entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in St. Louis, Missouri. She received a Bachelor of Arts in nursing from St. Catherine University. Her nursing career took her to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Kirkwood, MO, Kansas City, MO and then Seattle.

Sr. Jane responded to the Edmundite Missions to fill the need of a critical nursing shortage at Good Samaritan hospital in Selma, Alabama in 1972. Led by her mission and faith, she went sight unseen. During this time, she earned her nurse practitioner degree from the University of Charlottesville in Virginia.

Sr. Jane dedicated her life to her ministry of health and healing of the poor and ultimately spent over 50 years in service to those in poverty in central Alabama. She was honored by the Edmundite Missions with the Medal of Honor in 2010. Even after her retirement in 2018 she continued to volunteer for a health clinic in Selma.

She is survived by her siblings, Mary Margaret Kelly, (Los Angeles, CA). Br Mark Kelly OSB (Collegeville, MN) and Sr Anne Kelly CSJ (St Louis, MO) as well as 8 nieces and nephews, 19 great nieces and nephews, 9 great-great nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents and siblings Joseph Kelly, James Kelly and Rita (Kelly) Wurtz, as well as her sister-in-law, Patsy Kelly.

The rosary will be prayed at 4 pm on Friday, September 15th 2023, at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO (701 E Meyer Blvd) followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 4:30pm. Interment will be at 11am at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Ford City, MO on September 16, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899. Or to Edmundite Missions 1401 Broad Street Selma, AL. 36701

St. Edmund’s Medal Recipient 2010

Sr. Jane born the fourth child, of seven children, to James Patrick and Mary Fisher Kelly, began the first steps of her journey on the Kelly family farm nestled in the green hills of Northwest Missouri in Gentry county where her great grandfather settled as an Irish immigrant. Nurtured by her parents’ deep faith, Jane heard the call to a life of service during her high school days at Mount Academy in Atchison, KS and later she followed her childhood dream to become a nurse at Saint Teresa College in Kansas City MO. Jane entered the sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1954 and graduated from St. Catherine College in St. Paul MN in 1959. Returning to Missouri she worked in various capacities at St. Joseph hospital in Kirkwood and Kansas City where she served as a surgical nurse, operating room supervisor, and floor supervisor. There, Sr. Jane saw the need to serve the whole patient – body, mind, and spirit and initiated the Sister Apostle Program at St. Joseph Hospital in 1966. This ministry was a forerunner of the Pastoral Care Department and was duplicated in the Province’s other hospitals

In 1972 while working at the Veterans Hospital in Seattle, WA, Sr. Jane received a call from her Congregation asking her to respond to a critical need in staffing at Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma, AL. Sr. Jane responded with generosity and commitment to this call. According to John Crear, then CEO of Good Samaritan, she came to work at the hospital at a time when there was an acute shortage of registered nurses. She was willing to work whenever and wherever she was needed and frequently worked the 3 to 11 PM shift as the nursing supervisor. Sr. Jane was an invaluable asset and filled a vital role at Good Samaritan Hospital which was sponsored by the Edmundite Fathers to care for African Americans.

Sr. Jane saw the need and became interested in working with the Rural Health Medical Program while working as a nurse supervisor at Good Samaritan Hospital in Selma, AL. She saw the lack of medical care available to those in Pine Apple, AL. Pine Apple is 50 miles from Selma in a remote rural area. She personally recruited a nurse practitioner to work at the Pine Apple Health Center when it opened in 1979 and she went on to receive her degree as a Family Certified Nurse Practitioner from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 1980. Sr. Jane returned and assumed her position at the Rural Health Medical Program. She was personally responsible for recruiting a physician, Sr. Roseanne Cook, who still works with her at Pine Apple Health Center today.

She has walked with her patients from birth to death and maintains an involved role in the community. While performing a routine examination, Sr. Jane noticed her 15 year old patient could not read. Within a week, Sr. Jane presented a proposal to the Edmundite Mission director to establish a Learning Center at the Pine Apple Health Center. In 1984, the Learning Center was opened and has since continuously provided service to countless children and adults. Sr. Jane has recruited numerous professionals for staffing the Learning Center and the Adult Daycare Center at the Pine Apple Health Center. She has set up a network with numerous groups and organizations to obtain clothing school supplies and medical and dental equipment for the Pine Apple Health Center.

For over 48 years Sr. Jane has worked tirelessly in the healthcare field and has devoted her life for the past 25 years to the underserved and vulnerable in the Pine Apple, Alabama area. The people in the area trust her and will travel 50 to 75 miles for her help. She is known for her competence and skill as a medical professional serving as a Family Certified Nurse Practitioner in rural Alabama.

Care, competence, collaboration, and compassion are the hallmarks of Sr Jane's religious and professional life. She has been a living gospel to her colleagues and those she serves so lovingly in the name of Jesus Christ.