Agnes Lucille Bickett was the 12th and last child born to James Henry and Alma Stewart Bickett of Uniontown, Kentucky, on August 18, 1917. Her four brothers were James Louis, Robert Paul, Lucian Nathan, and Benjamin Franklin; her sisters were Mary Jo, Mary Ellen (Sister James Alma OSU), Alice Cecilia, Margaret Catherine, Mary Blanche (Sister Blanche Rita OSU) and Alma Elizabeth.
Agnes Lucille began her education in a one-room school at Hitesville in Union County. By the time she reached eighth grade all her sisters and brothers had completed elementary school. Since she was left to walk alone the great distance to the school, her parents arranged for her to live with her brother and his wife who lived in Morganfield where she could attend St. Ann School taught by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. She came to Mount Saint Joseph Academy after graduation from 8th grade. At the completion of her sophomore year, she entered the novitiate of the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph on August 14, 1935, completed high school, received the name Sister Agnes Irene and completed the novitiate to begin her ministry as a professed Ursuline Sister. Over the years she continued her education earning an AB degree from Brescia College and a MA degree in education from Murray State University.
Sister Agnes Irene’s assignment on Ursuline missions included housekeeping and homemaking from 1937-1949 in the convents at Fancy Farm, Ky.; Waterflow, N.M.; Paul, Neb.; Plattsmouth, Neb.; and St. Charles, Ky. Her teaching assignments in the intermediate grades from 1950-1986 included Hardinsburg, Affton, Mo., Mayfield, Cloverport, Owensboro, Waverly, St. Francis, Philpot, and Vine Grove, Ky. From 1989-1996 she was librarian at the Elementary School in Hardinsburg. Archival records reveal that during her teaching career Sister Agnes Irene received many rewards for excellent performance both in the formal classroom setting and extended services in the educational field.
She came to the Motherhouse in 1996 as hostess/caretaker in the Guest House. She retired from that position in 2001. The last eight years of her life were spent in retirement, living in Paul Volk Hall, assisting with multiple chores around campus until physical weakness and ill health forced her to move to St. Joseph Villa for more personal care.
Very quietly, after only a few weeks of helplessness, Sister Agnes Irene died soon after sunrise the morning of November 25, 2009. Her funeral Mass was celebrated on November 28 by Father Roy Dentinger, assisted by Fathers Joseph Mills, Patrick Reynolds, Dave Glockner, and Tom Kerkendoll.
Nieces and nephews, along with the Ursuline Sisters and many friends, accompanied Sister’s remains to the convent cemetery for the final ritual and burial.