The daughter of Granville and Alice Barry Beeler, Elizabeth was born Sept. 25, 1897, in Lafayette, Ind. Following her mother’s death, she and her only brother lived with their father in Lafayette, but later moved to Louisville. Elizabeth entered the novitiate at Nazareth, but due to her health was dismissed while still a postulant. When seeking re-admission after her health improved, Elizabeth found the provisional acceptance unfavorable. She then decided to enter the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on January 21, 1921. At that time, her father and brother disowned her. Elizabeth received the Ursuline habit on August 24, 1921, and was given the name Sister Mary Daniel.
Sister Mary Daniel was prepared for the teaching apostolate and assigned to St. Catherine School in New Haven, Ky., where she remained for nine years teaching the middle grades. She continued as a grade school teacher in Kentucky at St. Alphonsus, Owensboro (St. Joseph), and Holy Cross. In 1939, she began teaching high school at Stanley, Knottsville, and Fredericktown, Ky., Waterflow, N.M., Flaherty, Lebanon (St. Charles), Knottsville, and Whitesville, Ky. In 1973, Sister was missioned to St. Leonard Elementary School in Louisville. On October 18, 1974, Sister was rushed to St. Joseph Infirmary suffering from shortness of breath. She did not respond to treatment and died.
Following a Mass celebrated for her on October 19 at St. Leonard, Sister’s remains were brought to Mount Saint Joseph. Father Lucian Bianchi, OSB, assistant chaplain from the monastery in Pevely, Mo., and Msgr. Edward Russell celebrated the funeral Mass. Men from the parishes in Knottsville and Whitesville, Sister’s former pupils, served as pallbearers. A cousin and his wife attended the funeral services. Sister Mary Daniel’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.