Born July 26, 1886, in Uniontown, Ky., Lily Travis was the daughter of Ross and Laura Wight Spalding. She grew up in a home where morning and evening prayer was the order of the day. She received her high school education at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Following graduation, she entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On June 3, 1906, Lily Travis received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Vincentia.
Sister Vincentia began her ministry as a teacher at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. Despite her frailty, in addition to classroom teaching, Sister Vincentia did a tremendous amount of writing. Her numerous historical dramas, preserved in the community archives, were frequently performed in school celebrations and other educational settings.
Sister Vincentia is credited as having initiated the plans for Our Lady of Prompt Succor Shrine on All Saints Avenue. Sister Vincentia, Sister Eugenia Scherm and her father were cruising in the Caribbean in August 1915 when a devastating hurricane threatened the life of all on board the ship. The Sisters prayed to Our Lady of Prompt Succor for a safe return to shore and promised to build a shrine honoring her at Mount Saint Joseph. As soon as the Sisters returned to the Mount, Sister Vincentia began the work of keeping the promise she and Sister Eugenia had made. She got permission to use the money saved from the cruise to initiate the fund-raising to cover the costs of building the shrine. Sister Vincentia died March 11, 1920. As a result, fund raising for the shrine was neglected, not from lack of interest, rather the Sisters were busy tending to other needs of the young community and the school. The graduating class of 1928 took on the task of finishing the project and presented it as their gift to the Academy. October 21, 1927, the feast of Saint Ursula, the shrine was dedicated. This occasion added to the solemnity of the community’s celebration commemorating the martyrdom of Saint Ursula.
After only 14 years of living the life of an Ursuline, Sister Vincentia died on March 11, 1920. Father A.G. Meyering celebrated the funeral Mass. Three other priests were present. Father Edward. S. Fitzgerald preached the sermon. Sister Vincentia’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.