Gertrude Catherine, the fifth of seven children of Peter Louis and Matilda “Tillie” Grauel Heimann, was born at Hikes Point, Jeffersontown, Ky., on January 23, 1916. Her faith journey began at St. Edward Church, Jeffersontown, on January 30, 1916.
Gertrude’s formal education began at St. Edward Elementary School in September 1922. She completed eight grades there. She graduated from high school at Mercy Academy.
Gertrude entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph on November 29, 1934. On August 15, 1935, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Justina.
In fall 1936, while still in the novitiate, Sister Justina spent short periods as a substitute teacher in Kentucky at Fairfield, Flaherty, St. Charles and Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Other assignments during the next 35 years were in Ursuline‑staffed Kentucky schools in Owensboro (St. Joseph and Blessed Mother), Waverly, Whitesville, Louisville (St. Columba), Princeton, Flaherty, New Haven, Knottsville, and Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
In 1978, Sister Justina retired from teaching, and was assigned to St. Angela Education Center in Louisville as bookkeeper and receptionist. The Education Center closed in the summer of 1996. She remained at St. Angela Home making quilts for the Mount Saint Joseph Quilt Club. During this time her health rapidly deteriorated. After several extended periods of hospitalization in Louisville, she was transferred to Owensboro Mercy Hospital in Owensboro for evaluation. She was placed in the Motherhouse infirmary on March 6, 2000, and died the evening of March 24.
Father Anthony Shonis celebrated the funeral Mass at three o’clock the afternoon of March 28. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.