Mary Magdalene, one of eight children of Joseph A. and Elizabeth Gertrude (Settles) Settles, was born April 20, 1916, at Sorgho, Ky. Her faith journey began with baptism at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sorgho.
In September 1923, Mary Magdalene began her formal education at St. Mary Magdalene School. When the family moved to Browns Valley three years later, she attended Brown Valley Public School in grades four through six.
Mary Magdalene entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph in September 1932 to begin preparation for the Ursuline way of life. She received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Oderic II on March 18, 1933. Her older sister received the name Sister Mary Oderic in 1922, but died in 1929.
Shortly after professing temporary vows, Sister was first missioned as housekeeper for St. Joseph School, and St. Mary Home in Owensboro, Ky. Other assignments during her 59 years of service were in Ursuline convents in Kentucky at Calvary, Knottsville, Peonia, Holy Cross, Flaherty, Fairfield, Raywick (St. Joseph), Louisville (St. Angela Home, St. Columba and St. Bernard), Hardinsburg, Jeffersontown, Loretto, St. Francis and Shively. She also served in Waterflow, N.M. Sister’s last assignment was a return to St. Edward, Jeffersontown, in 1982.
In 1994, Sister retired to the Motherhouse where she continued to keep busy volunteering her help when and wherever she sensed a need, visiting the sick and praying in the chapel. Sister was found dead in her bedroom sitting in a recliner, on June 18, 1996. She had died sometime between 9:30 and 10 p.m. On Friday, June 21, 1996, Father James Hargadan, Father Bertrand Rapp and Father Henry Willett celebrated the funeral Mass. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.