Born June 21, 1890, at Cedar Hill, Tenn., Annie was the daughter of John and Mary Jane Crouch Cotter and was one of eight children. Annie attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy during the school year of 1907-1908. She returned home to Tennessee for Christmas that year and responding to the call to religious life, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on January 6, 1908. Seven months later Annie received the Ursuline habit and was given the name Sister Gonzaga.
Sister Gonzaga, prepared for the teaching apostolate, was first assigned to St. James School in Louisville where she spent eight years. Then she was assigned to Sts. Peter and Paul School in Bow Valley, Neb., and three years later she was teaching again at St. James in Louisville — an assignment, which lasted 10 years. Sister Gonzaga taught students in the upper grades and in high school. In 1931 she was elected to serve as mother assistant to the Mount Saint Joseph Ursulines, and three years later was elected mother superior. At this time Gregorian chant was developed within the Mount Saint Joseph Community and was taught during summer school sessions. The Great Flood of 1937 took place during the winter of her last year in office. There was great concern for the Sisters’ and students, and families who lived in those areas affected by the flooding. After her terms at Mount Saint Joseph, Sister Gonzaga returned to teaching and spent six years at St. Charles School in Lebanon, Ky. Then came assignments to other Kentucky schools until 1961 when she was elected mother assistant and she served in this position for six years. Once again Sister Gonzaga resumed teaching and was assigned to Seven Holy Founders School at Affton, Mo., where she stayed four years. Her final assignment was St. Joseph School in Owensboro between 1968-1970.
In early September 1970, Sister Gonzaga fractured her skull in a fall and was admitted to Mercy Hospital in Owensboro, where she died on September 16. She had been conscious only a short time before she went into a coma at the hospital. Father Bernard Powers, MSJ chaplain, and Father James Meder of Louisville, a former pupil, concelebrated her funeral Mass with Father Bernard Powers as homilist. Seven priests were present in the sanctuary. Sister Gonzaga was laid to rest in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Mary Jean.