Born on April 26, 1899, in St. Vincent, Ky., to Robert and Mary Willett VanVactor, Ann Eugenia was one of nine children. Her father died when she was 10 years old, but her mother kept the family together and provided for their spiritual and temporal well‑being. Eugenia’s elementary and secondary education was received in the Union County Public School System. At the age of 17, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On May 2, 1917, following a six‑month postulancy, Eugenia received the Ursuline habit and was given the name Sister Mary Estelle.
Sister Mary Estelle began her apostolate of domestic service in 1918 at St. Bernard Convent in Clementsville, Ky. She continued this ministry in Kentucky until 1927, serving at Curdsville, Holy Cross, New Haven, and Owensboro (St. Joseph). She spent 1925-27 at Wynot and Snyder, Neb. In 1927, she began teaching in the classroom. She was missioned to the Kentucky towns of Bardwell, St. Lawrence, Owensboro (St. Joseph), Fancy Farm, Shively, Central City, Howardstown, Cloverport, Raywick, Peonia, Earlington, Louisville (St. Paul, St. Columba, St. Ignatius), Jeffersontown, Shively, and Buechel. Sister spent six years at Affton, Mo. During her years of apostolic service, Sister underwent many surgeries and periods of illness. She never lost her warm personality and sense of humor nor her determination to remain “in charge” of life as long as possible.
Sister Mary Estelle retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 1974. She shared her talent as seamstress and quilter for several years. She eventually became unable to take care of herself or to respond to her surroundings. She died on April 28, 1987. Msgr. Bernard Powers offered her funeral Mass two days later. He summed up Sister Mary Estelle’s life in these words: “Simplicity in service, greatness in suffering.” Her remains rest in the convent cemetery.