Marguerite, the oldest of ten children (two of whom died in infancy) was born to Albert Wesley and Catherine Lee Blandford Medley on August 16, 1914 at Holy Cross, Kentucky. Her formal education began September 1920, at Holy Cross School where she spent all 12 years of elementary and secondary education.
On September 7, 1932, Marguerite entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph to prepare for the life of an Ursuline. On March 19, 1933, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Charles Catherine. The following November, her mother died in childbirth, leaving behind an infant girl, and seven other young children. It was an extremely difficult time for Marguerite. She was torn between her desire to be a nun and her sense of obligation to the family. One of her mother’s sisters came to live with the family to care for the baby. The older girls, Jane and Annabelle, took much of the responsibility of caring for the other children. Marguerite continued her preparation for life as an Ursuline of Mount Saint Joseph.
After professing first vows in 1935, Sister Charles Catherine was missioned to St. Paul School, Louisville, Kentucky, where she taught the primary grades for three years. Sister was assigned to other Ursuline schools in Kentucky: Browns Valley, Fairfield, Howardstown, Raywick, Harrodsburg, Louisville and Buechel. Sister also taught in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and in Farmington and Grants, New Mexico. In most of these assignments she also served as church organist. Sister Charles Catherine was a gifted, dedicated teacher of primary grades for 34 years. Many were touched by her gentleness.
Sister Charles Catherine retired and came to the Motherhouse in 1988. She died in Owensboro Mercy Hospital on February 14, 2000. Father Anthony Shonis celebrated the funeral Mass on February 17. Because of a heavy rainstorm, the burial service was held in the chapel. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Sister Miriam Medley, her Ursuline sister, was among the survivors.