Emma was born March 30, 1901, one of the 12 children born to William and Sarah Thompson Mattingly of Loretto, Ky. Her early formal education was received at the elementary school in Loretto. Emma entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph when she was 19. Following postulancy, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Nazaria on March 19, 1920.
Sister Nazaria received her secondary education after she entered the convent and was prepared for the teaching apostolate. Beginning in 1920, she taught the upper grades in the following Kentucky schools: Waverly, Bardwell, Fancy Farm, and St. Lawrence. For the next 39 years, she taught high school mathematics and science with a special emphasis in biology at the following schools: Flaherty and Clementsville, Ky., Blanco, N.M., Waverly, Ky., Nebraska City, Neb., more Kentucky schools in Holy Cross, Knottsville, Waverly, St. Alphonsus, St. Francis, Mayfield, Fredericktown, and Knottsville; a return to New Mexico at Waterflow, then back to Kentucky at New Haven and Whitesville. In 1968, she was off duty living at St. Columba in Louisville because of a broken hip. In 1970, she was missioned to Rome, Ky., for five years teaching grades six, seven, and eight part-time. After 55 years of teaching, Sister Nazaria retired in 1975 and lived seven years at St Ignatius in Louisville.
Sister Nazaria retired to the Mount in 1982 and was actively involved in the activities provided for the retired Sisters. From time to time, she suffered from high blood pressure otherwise her body simply gave in to the natural deterioration of aging. She died November 3, 1992, at age 91. The wake was held the following day. On November 5, Father Anthony Shonis and Msgr. Bernard Powers celebrated the funeral Mass at 2 p.m. Sister Nazaria’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Preceding her in death was her Ursuline sister, Sister Carmelita. Among her survivors was her Ursuline niece, Sister Mary Elaine Burke.
Sister Nazaria was the first of three deaths at Mount Saint Joseph on November 3, 1992. The others were Sister James Marie Pfeffer and Sister Joseph Marian Logsdon. There had also been a death on November 2, 1992 — Sister Ann Frances Johnson. Wake Services were held on November 3, 4, 5, and 6. Funerals and burials were held on November 4, 5, 6, and 7.