The daughter of J.W. and Carrie Hayden Elliott, Ophelia was born April 10, 1903, in Paducah, Ky. At the age of five, following the death of her mother, she was placed in the care of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Louisville. When 18 years of age, Ophelia went to live with her paternal grandmother at Fancy Farm. When she was 19 years old, at the recommendation of the pastor of St. Jerome Church in Fancy Farm, Ophelia entered the novitiate and received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Philomena on March 19, 1923.
Sister Philomena’s teaching assignment in 1924, for one year, was St. Elizabeth School, Curdsville, Ky. Following that first assignment, she taught in Kentucky at St. Joseph (Owensboro), Shively, St. Rose (Cloverport), and St. Charles (Lebanon). She became ill with tuberculosis in July of 1934. She was confined to St. Joseph Infirmary in Louisville for eight months, and spent two years recuperating at St. Angela Home in Louisville.
Sister Philomena became a patient in the infirmary at Mount Saint Joseph in February 1935. She died on September 5, 1935. The funeral Mass was celebrated on September 7 by Father Henry Berthiaume, OMC, temporary chaplain. Sister Philomena was laid to rest in the convent cemetery.
The St. Joseph Parish Bulletin (Owensboro) paid tribute to Sister Philomena in this manner: “Sister endeared herself to her pupils during the years she taught at our school. The children and parents were sorry when Sister left us. We hope they will remember her now in their prayers and when they attend Holy Mass or receive Holy Communion. We should all pray for Sister now that God has called her away — we owe it to Sister for the care and attention she gave to our children while she taught the II and IV Grades.”