On December 19, 1907, a daughter Arletta, one of 10 children, was born to Benjamin Cambron and Emma (Clements) Clements in Uniontown, Ky. Two days later, she was baptized at St. Agnes Church, Uniontown. Her formal education began in 1913 in the Union County Public School system, but the greater part of her schooling was obtained at St. Agnes School, taught by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
Arletta’s aunt, Sister Martina Clements, OSU, introduced her to the Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph. This influenced her choice in entering the Mount Saint Joseph novitiate. On January 21, 1927, Arletta and five other young women began their journey as Ursuline educators. On August 15, 1927, she received the habit and name Sister Mary Ephrem.
Sister’s apostolate began in September at Mount Saint Joseph Academy, teaching Latin, math and science for one year. On completing her novitiate, she was missioned to teach math and science in Kentucky high schools at Fredericktown, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Stanley, and Cloverport. She was a full-time student at Nazareth College in Louisville for the 1933-34 school year. She was then missioned as high school teacher to St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City, Neb., and Holy Cross, Ky. In 1936, she spent the fall semester at The Catholic University of America and returned to Nebraska City. She came back to Holy Cross in 1940, and to Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1944. She was once again missioned to Nebraska City in 1945, then returned to Kentucky to serve at Fredericktown in 1948, then New Haven, Flaherty, St. Paul (Leitchfield), St. Francis, and Marion County High School. In 1971, she returned to St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City, to Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1973, and in 1977 was assigned as hostess/manager for the Guest House. She had a great influence on the seminarians and other visitors who frequented the Mount. Sister spent her leisure time working in crafts, particularly needlework of various kinds. She was skilled at the loom making stoles, mats, and wall hangings. Sister Mary Ephrem loved nature and could frequently be found working in the numerous flowerbeds around campus.
Sister retired from active ministry in 1982. She always treasured the Mount, and the Sisters, and practiced a deep prayer life. Hope, trust and faith were the anchors that sustained her until her death, November 1, 1995. Fathers Anthony Shonis and Paul Pike Powell celebrated the funeral Mass. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.