John Barton and Georgia Ann Thompson Warren of Marion County, Ky., welcomed Mary Hester, their sixth child, on Feb. 3, 1903. The family would eventually include five girls and four boys. Mary Hester began her elementary education in the Marion County Public Schools. She graduated from high school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
Mary Hester entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. She received the habit March 19, 1922 and was given the name Sister Mary Bartholene. Sister began her teaching apostolate at Fredericktown, Ky. In her 57 years as an Ursuline educator, Sister Bartholene taught in Kentucky at Howardstown, St. Joseph (St. Alphonsus), Fairfield, Louisville (St. Columba, St. Denis), Earlington, Sorgho, Holy Cross, Flaherty, Hardinsburg, Clementsville, New Haven, Raywick, Calvary, Buechel, Paducah (St. Thomas More), Peonia, and Mount Saint Joseph Academy. She also taught in Jeffersonville, Ind., and in Waterflow, Blanco, Farmington and San Fidel, N.M. Sister Bartholene retired from teaching in 1977. She left New Mexico and came to St. Ignatius Retirement Center in Louisville for two years.
Sister Bartholene recalled her time of teaching young Native American children in New Mexico as an outstanding experience. While in New Mexico, she met Mother Katherine Drexel who was traveling through the Southwest and spent time with the Ursulines at Waterflow. Mother (Saint) Katherine Drexel was the founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and of Xavier University, New Orleans. “Mother Kate,” as Sister Bartholene fondly called her, was known for her saintly dedication to teaching African and Native Americans. Sister remembered “Mother Kate” as a humble, ordinary woman despite her wealthy upbringing. She accompanied Mother Katherine to a Native American Powwow during her stay with the Ursulines. “I knew a saint!” was one of her favorite memories.
Sister Bartholene retired to the Motherhouse in 1982. She enjoyed needlecraft, especially tatting that was used in the creation of unique greeting cards for sale in the Mount Saint Joseph Gift Shop. She enjoyed unusually good health to the very end of her life. At age 102, she retained a wonderful posture, a brisk walk in high-heel slippers, a good appetite and freedom from worry. She never lost her quiet, though intense, curiosity about life as it unfolded day by day. She clung tightly to personal independence, but gave in to the inevitable with grace and dignity.
Sister Mary Bartholene entered the joys of eternal life on April 13, 2005, at the age of 102. She had spent 83 years as an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph. Father Leonard Alvey celebrated the funeral Mass on April 17, 2005. Sister Bartholene’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.