Born Feb. 13, 1914, in Central City, Ky., Mary Callista was the daughter of James Patrick and Mary Ellen McGown Murphy of Irish descent. She was one of nine children. Mary Callista received most of her formal education at St Joseph School in Central City, then attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy during the years 1930-1933. When 17 years of age, Mary Callista entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. She received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Edwardine on March 18, 1933.
Sister Edwardine began her teaching apostolate in the primary grades at Wilhelmina, Mo., from March to June in 1935. She was then missioned to Louisville (St James and St Denis), St Francis, and St Charles, Ky. In 1947, she opened Rosary Chapel, a parish school for African Americans in Paducah, Ky. From there, she was missioned to Waterflow, N.M., in 1955 to teach in the high school section of the Academy. She returned to Kentucky and taught the eighth grade at Flaherty and Raywick. In 1959, she was superior, principal and taught eighth grade at St Margaret Mary School, Lyndon, Ky. From there she returned to Flaherty for three years and to Raywick for six years.
No longer able to teach because of Parkinson’s, Sister lived in retirement a year at St. Margaret Mary Convent in Lyndon and two years at St Ignatius Convent in Louisville spreading sunshine among the Sisters and students. Sister Edwardine returned to Mount Saint Joseph in 1972. She patiently accepted the inevitable helplessness and pain caused from the progressive debilitation of Parkinson’s. Death came to her on November 2, 1984. Three days later, Father Anthony Ziegler, former chaplain, celebrated the funeral Mass. Sister Edwardine’s remains are laid to rest in the convent cemetery.
A long-standing friend of the Murphy family (owner of thoroughbred race horses on his farm near Lexington, Ky.) became a faithful benefactor to the Mount Saint Joseph Ursuline Community through Sister Edwardine. He occasionally sent part or all of his winnings to her. His generosity enabled the community to commission the window of St Teresa of Avila and St. Therese, the Little Flower in the chapel to commemorate the silver jubilee (1914-1939) of Mother Teresita Thompson. Because of the benevolence of this friend, Sister Edwardine was able also to assist many poor families who lacked the resources to clothe, feed and send their children to school.