Ora Agnes, one of seven children of Paul and Ida Mills Mattingly, was born on April 24, 1906, in Paynesville, Ky. Her faith journey began with her baptism at St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi Church, Paynesville.
Her formal education began at St. Philip Neri School, Louisville. Ky., but the family moved to Bloomington, Ill., for a time. There she attended St. Patrick School. Her mother died when Agnes was in the fourth grade and the family returned to Kentucky. The children were separated and Agnes went to live with the C.C. Burch family in Louisville. She attended St. James School staffed by the Mount Saint Joseph Ursulines. She attended high school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy.
On September 8, 1923, Agnes entered the Mount Saint Joseph novitiate. On March 19, 1924, she was invested in the Ursuline habit and received the name Sister Mary Leander. She went home shortly after investment, but returned three months later to join the 1925 class of novices.
Shortly after professing temporary vows in 1926, she was assigned to St. William School, Knottsville, Ky. Other teaching assignments in Kentucky were at Cloverport, Shively, Fairfield, Clarkson, West Louisville, Waverly, Rome, Louisville (St. Columba, St. Ignatius, St. James), Owensboro (Immaculate) Buechel, Paducah (St. Thomas More), and Hodgenville. She spent three years at Jeffersonville, Ind. During these 45 years, she taught either primary or intermediate grades. In 1973-76, she tutored part-time at St. Angela Education Center, Louisville.
In 1976, Sister retired to the Motherhouse. After a few years in the infirmary, God called Sister Leander home, Wednesday evening, April 30, 1997. Her funeral liturgy was celebrated on Sunday, May 4, by Father Anthony Shonis. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.