Obituary for Sister Shirley Ann Simmons, OSU

Ursuline Sister of Louisville Shirley Ann (Joanella) Simmons, O.S.U. age 99, former principal of St. Luke School, Ogallala, Nebraska, died in the 82nd year of her religious life on June 9, 2024, at Nazareth Home-Clifton. A native of Heartwell, Nebraska, she graduated from St. Patrick High School, in North Platte, where she was taught by the Ursulines, then received a scholarship to attend Ursuline College in Louisville. She entered the Ursulines in 1942 at age 17.

Sister Shirley Ann began her 55-year ministry as a teacher in Louisville at St. Boniface parish school in 1944, then later taught at Our Lady of Lourdes parish school and served as principal of St. Elizabeth parish school. She also taught in Cumberland, Maryland, Omaha, Nebraska, and McDaid Elementary in North Platte, Nebraska. She served as principal at three schools in Nebraska: St. Patrick Elementary in Sidney; Blessed Sacrament School in Omaha; and St. Luke School in Ogallala from 1975 until her retirement in 1999. She then served in parish ministry in St. Luke parish until she returned to Louisville in 2012. She volunteered at United Crescent Hill Ministries and in the Ursuline Sisters’ archives for several years.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from the former Ursuline College (now Bellarmine University) in Louisville, and a master of arts degree in education from Creighton University, Omaha.

Sister Shirley Ann is the daughter of the late Niles and Ella Porterfield Simmons. She was also preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Gloria and Joe Dodson; brother John “Jack” Simmons; and brother and sister-in-law Niles Simmons and Joan Cohen. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates.

Visitation will be at Bosse Funeral Home, 1355 Ellison Avenue, on Monday, June 17, from 2-5 p.m., with the Vigil service at 3 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 18, at 11:00 a.m., in the Motherhouse Chapel with burial to follow in St. Michael Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and mailed to the Donor Relations Office, 3115 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206.
 

The funeral will be livestreamed here: https://vimeo.com/event/4378287