The daughter of Patrick and Louise Wethington, Orene was born November 4, 1899, in Clementsville, Ky. She came into a family that possessed a deep and abiding Catholic faith. Orene attended public school at an early age. In 1911, when the Ursuline Sisters opened St. Bernard School in Clementsville, Orene was one of the first 85 students to greet them. Father Alphonsus O’Shea, the pastor, said, “They are the best and most willing children you Sisters will ever have to deal with.” Orene went to the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph when she was 15 years of age. On March 25, 1916, following an eight‑month postulancy, she received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Pancratius.
Sister Pancratius’ first mission was at St. Francis Xavier in Raywick, Ky., where she was housekeeper. She was missioned to Nebraska in 1919. She remained at the various Nebraska missions — Dixon, Wynot, Bow Valley and Nebraska City — until 1934. Ten of these years were spent at St. Bernard Academy in Nebraska City, directing the laundry and caring for the boarders. As always, her many acts of kindness and prayerfulness endeared her to the hearts of the many people she met. Sister Pancratius came back to Kentucky and was missioned to Calvary for one year. In 1935, Sister was assigned to Mount Saint Joseph as hostess in charge of the Guest House, supervisor of the students’ dining room, and operator of the switchboard. She also found time to sew and to tend the lawn and flowerbeds near the Guest House. Sister Pancratius was always happy to be of service. Although she carried many responsibilities, she was never too busy to be present to the unfortunate and suffering. Her sympathy was shown more by deeds of kindness than by words.
On April 19, 1970, Sister Pancratius suffered a heart attack. She died at Mercy Hospital in Owensboro the next morning. Father Bernard Powers, chaplain, offered the funeral Mass. Sister Pancratius’ remains are buried in the convent cemetery. She was the first Mount Saint Joseph Ursuline buried in a white casket.