Margaret Anna was born March 2, 1922, the third child in a family of 15 to Michael Xavier and Mary Pauline Mattingly Aull of Knottsville, Ky.: Theresa Elizabeth, Thomasina, Mary Naomi (Sister Naomi OSU), Mildred (Sister Marie Michael CP). William Guy, Robert Eugene, Joyce Marie, James Leo, Beverly, Joseph Allen, Joseph Harry, and Anne Carolyn. Two children died in early infancy.
Margaret Anna’s formal schooling began at St. William School in Knottsville. She began high school at Daviess County High in Owensboro and later attended St. William High School in Knottsville. At age 17, she became a postulant at Mount Saint Joseph, received the Ursuline habit August 14, 1940, and received the name Sister Margaret Joseph. She completed the two-year novitiate, three years in temporary profession, and made final vows August 15, 1945.
Sister Margaret Joseph’s first teaching assignment was to primary grades at St. Denis School in Shively, Ky., where she taught for 14 years. She was assigned next to Sacred Heart School in Farmington, N.M., for 11 years. She came back to Kentucky to Immaculate School in Owensboro teaching grade 5 for one year. She returned to New Mexico in 1968 teaching either at San Fidel or Grants until 1975. She returned to Owensboro and taught at St. Pius X until 1985. She retired from teaching and was given permission to live at home to care for her aging mother while working part-time at the lab in Owensboro Mercy Hospital. After her mother’s death, she was missioned to Christ the King School in Madisonville, Ky., as part-time teacher/tutor and minister to the sick and shut-ins of the parish. Sister Margaret was greatly revered by the students and adults with whom she shared her love for God, her strong faith in Christ’s promise of salvation and her belief in the goodness of each individual ─ all colored by the warmth of her gentle manner and perpetual smile.
Sister Margaret Joseph was stricken suddenly with a massive stroke while celebrating an early Christmas dinner and ornament sharing , on December 6, 2009, at the home of her brother Joe and his wife, Lena, in Owensboro. Because of the severity of the damage, the medical team at Owensboro Mercy Hospital could give the family little, if any, hope of survival. Sister died the following day.
The wake service was help at 6:30 December 9 with Sister Margaret Ann Aull, a cousin, leading the prayer. Sister Margaret Joseph had requested the usual Speaking in Remembrance by the Congregational leader and persons in the assembly who wished to speak not be included in the service. Instead, she had requested that four specific Scripture passages be read.
Father Gerald Calhoun, pastor of Christ the King in Madisonville, was principal celebrant at the Mass of Resurrection. With him at the altar were Fathers Greg Trawick (homilist), Ray Clark, Dave Glockner and Tom Kirdendoll. Sister Rita Scott led the prayer at the closing of the casket.
A very large number of family members, former students, friends and the Ursuline Sisters formed the procession to the convent cemetery for the burial of Sister’s remains. As customary, everyone was invited to the dining room for lunch. Many family members lingered after the meal as if enjoying the feeling of their loved one’s presence in the place that was home to her so long.