Born on Sept. 2, 1902, Julietta was the oldest daughter of Andrew and Anne Ray Ritchie of Flaherty, Ky. She began her formal education in Meade County Public School at Flaherty and later attended Bethlehem Academy where she was taught by the Sisters of Loretto. In 1919, she met the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph as teachers at St. Martin School in Flaherty. Julietta entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. She, and her classmates, were Sister Aloysius Willett’s last postulants. During her postulancy, Julietta was assigned as a part-time teacher of the first grade in the Academy. On March 19, 1921, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Ernestine.
In 1921, Sister Ernestine’s first assignment took her to St. Francis Xavier School at Raywick, Ky. She taught a class of 60 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students. Other assignments, through her 57 years of teaching, took her to the various public and parochial elementary schools in Kentucky and Missouri. In Kentucky, she was missioned to Holy Cross, Raywick (Little St. Joseph), Peonia, Calvary, Fredericktown, Clementsville, Louisville (St. Columba), and Sorgho. From 1962 to 1970, Sister Ernestine taught seventh grade at Seven Holy Founders in Affton, Mo. In 1970, Sister came back to Kentucky and taught grade five at St. Bartholomew in Buechel for four years, then served as librarian for a year. She was off duty at the Motherhouse from February to August in 1975. She returned to Affton for three years before retiring in 1978.
As a permanent resident of the Motherhouse, Sister Ernestine filled her days with praying, reading, crocheting afghans, and participating in the activities in the local community. She kept in close touch with her family, often visiting them in their homes. Sister remained active until a year before her death on June 21, 1992. Her final years were spent in the infirmary where she awaited her death. She died on June 21, 1992. Two days later, the funeral Mass was concelebrated by Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, and Msgr. Bernard Powers at St. Alphonsus Church. Sister Ernestine’s remains are laid to rest in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Georgine.
The chapel at Mount Saint Joseph underwent major renovation between July 1991 and July 1992. The funerals between these dates were held in St. Alphonsus Church, St. Joseph, Ky.