Mary Chessie was born Oct. 19, 1891, the daughter of James and Ellen Moore Boyle of Calhoun, Ky. She entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph when she was 16 years of age. Three months later on August 25, 1908, Mary Chessie received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary James.
Sister Mary James’ apostolate was domestic service and her first assignment as housekeeper was at the convent of St. Peter School in Waverly, Ky., where she served the teaching Sisters for 14 years. Other shorter assignments took her to the convents at Howardstown and Cloverport, both in Kentucky, and to Nebraska City, Neb. Sister Mary James was assigned to Mount Saint Joseph three different times through her many years of domestic service and at the end, these mounted up to 44 years. She often had charge of the meals and truly enjoyed the times she made ice cream for the entire community with the help of the novices. As she grew weaker through the years, she kept her place in the kitchen directing the activities there from her special chair.
As Sister Mary James continued to grow weaker, she gave up her domestic duties and during the final months of her life, she was confined to bed. Death came on August 26, 1973, when she peacefully breathed her last. Three days later Msgr. Bernard Powers, chaplain, celebrated her funeral Mass. Sister Mary James was buried in the convent cemetery.