Anna Rose, the youngest of eight children of John Thomas and Mary Catherine Byrne Purdy, was born December 6, 1908, on a farm near Curdsville, Ky. Her faith journey began with baptism at St. Elizabeth Church on December 13, 1908. The Purdy family were strict Catholics. The four daughters all became Ursulines: Sister Mary Ephrem, an Ursuline of Louisville, and Sisters Mary John, Dolorosa and Jean Catherine (Rose), Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph.
In September 1926, Rose, along with 14 other young women, entered the novitiate to begin the three-year preparation for the life of an Ursuline. On March 19, 1927, she was invested in the Ursuline habit and received the name Sister Jean Catherine.
Shortly after profession of temporary vows in 1929, Sister Jean Catherine was assigned to teach grades 1-3 at St. Anthony School, Jeffersonville, Ind., where she remained two years. She was then missioned to teach middle or upper grades in Kentucky at Shively, Bardwell, Knottsville, Earlington, Flaherty, Fredericktown, Browns Valley, Louisville (St. Columba), St. Francis, Peonia, Owensboro (Blessed Mother), Calhoun, Central City, Flaherty (second time), and Louisville (St. Bernard, St. Margaret Mary); along with a mission to New Mexico (San Fidel).
In 1979, Sister Jean Catherine retired to the Motherhouse where she joined the other Sisters preparing vegetables, and making various craft items. She was appreciative of the quiet and peace of life at the Mount, particularly attentive to the needs of her elderly sister, Sister Mary John, and participating in community prayer. She was confined to the infirmary for months before her death in the morning hours of Sunday, November 11, 2001. On Tuesday, November 13, Father Joseph Mills celebrated the funeral Mass. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Her three Ursuline sisters preceded her in death.