Born June 24, 1903, in Knottsville, Ky., Mary Agnes was the daughter of William and Mary Matilda Payne Aud. She received her early education at a one-room school on Short Station Road — called Snowball School. At times her father paid a cousin to stay in their home and tutor the children. Mary Agnes also attended St. William School in Knottsville, then enrolled at Mount Saint Joseph Academy and graduated in 1925. At the age of 22, she entered the novitiate for her postulancy and received the Ursuline habit on March 19, 1926, and the name Sister Monica.
Sister Monica was prepared to teach music and was assigned first to St. Romuald School in Hardinsburg, Ky., to teach primary grades and music. Her second assignment was to Holy Cross, Ky., where she also taught primary grades and music. She was assigned to St. Anthony School in Jeffersonville, Ind., and only taught music. Following this assignment, Sister taught mostly in primary classrooms and served as parish organist in Kentucky at Waverly, Hardinsburg, Peonia, Fancy Farm, Fairfield, and Calvary. She served in Glennonville, Mo., then returned to Kentucky at Blessed Mother (Owensboro), Jeffersontown, St. Columba (Louisville), and finally at Holy Cross. In 1962, Sister was off duty and lived at St. Angela Home in Louisville under a doctor’s care. Sister discontinued teaching because of severe spasms of facial muscles. She came to St. William Convent in Knottsville in 1963 as housekeeper and organist and remained in that position until she retired to the Motherhouse in 1981.
In her early years of retirement, she kept in touch with friends and relatives by telephone. She developed arteriosclerosis causing severe loss of memory. She sustained a broken hip in September 1988. Due to complications from a second surgery, death came to her on November 3, 1988. Two days later, Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, celebrated her funeral Mass. Father Michael Hayden conducted the graveside prayers. Sister Monica’s remains rest in the convent cemetery.
Sister Monica Aud I and Sister Monica Aud II were aunt and niece. Sister Monica Aud II, the niece, entered three years after her aunt died on July 14, 1923, and was given the same name in religion.