Sister Diane Marie Payne, OSU: July 9, 1945-November 19, 2020

Sister Diane Marie Payne, 75, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Nov. 19, 2020, at Mount Saint Joseph, in her 56th year of religious life. She was a native of Glennonville, Mo.

Sister Diane Marie loved to put a smile on the face of all those she met, and to share her life devoted to Christ. She graduated from Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1963, and from Brescia College, Owensboro, in 1984.

Sister Diane Marie ministered entirely in Kentucky except for a year as a pastoral minister at Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Mobile, Ala., (1994-95). She was a teacher’s aide at Immaculate Conception School in Earlington (1969) and at St. Charles School, Lebanon (1969-72). She was a teacher at Immaculate Conception School, Hawesville (1972-73) and at St. Andrew School, Harrodsburg (1973-82). She was a pastoral minister at St. John the Baptist Parish, Fordsville (1983-93) and at St. Jude Parish, Clinton (1995-98). She was a Hospice chaplain in Owensboro (2003-2006). She served at Mount Saint Joseph in pastoral care (1993-94, 1998-2001, 2011-12), as Guest House coordinator (2001-03), chapel sacristan (2001-03, 2007-09), coordinator of the Saint Angela Oratory (2010-14) and mail distributor (2015-16).

Survivors include the members of her religious community and a godson, Mark Weidenbenner.

In compliance with health and public safety directives the wake service at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 22 and the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 23 are private.

Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, Owensboro, is in charge of arrangements.

Donations in memory of Sister Diane Marie may be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.

In Remembrance of Sister Diane Marie Payne, OSU

November 22, 2020

Sister Pat Lynch, Assistant Congregational Leader

 Sister Diane Marie Payne was born on July 9, 1945, in Glennonville, located in Dunklin County, Missouri. She died on November 19, 2020 in her 56th year of religious life. Her parents were David Payne and Anna Marie Peters. Family survivors include her Godson, Mark Weidenbenner. We offer our sympathy and prayers to him. She is also survived by the members of her religious community.

Sister Diane Marie was baptized the day after she was born, in St. Teresa Church in Glennonville. She was later confirmed on October 5, 1952 in the same church. She was raised by her grandparents, John and Alma Peters. She worked on the farm with a large group of aunts and uncles. An interesting fact in her file was that her great uncle, Fr. Frederick Peters, was the founder of Glennonville. He was sent to that area of land by Cardinal John Glennon, an Irishman, who recognized the need to establish farms for immigrants. Fr. Peters found an old, abandoned sawmill with rotting buildings and dismal swampland on the tract that Cardinal Glennon had purchased. He transformed it into a Catholic colony and named it Glennonville after the Cardinal.

Sister Diane Marie attended elementary school at St. Teresa School in Glennonville, where the teachers were Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. For high school, she came to Mount Saint Joseph Academy, where she graduated in 1963. It is said that former Sister Cecilia Mary McBride was influential in planting the seeds of her religious vocation. Sister Diane Marie entered the Ursuline community on September 7, 1963. Her classmates who remain include: Sisters Mary Timothy Bland, Joyce Marie Cecil, Karla Marie Kaelin, Joan Mary Riedley, Laurita Spalding and Melissa Tipmore. We extend our sympathy to all of you who made this journey with her in religious life. Sister Diane Marie was received into the Novitiate on August 14, 1964. She professed first vows on August 15, 1966 and made her final profession of vows on July 18, 1971. She attended Brescia College and received her Bachelor of Science degree from there in 1984. 

Sister Diane Marie spent all of her ministerial years in Kentucky with the exception of one year as a pastoral minister at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Mobile, Alabama in 1994-95. Her early ministries were as a Teachers’ Aide and then a Teacher. She then served as a Pastoral Minister for 10 years at St. John the Baptist Parish in Fordsville, Kentucky. She stayed in this ministry at several parishes and also helped with Pastoral Care at Mount Saint Joseph. In a letter she wrote to the Community she expressed her gratitude and appreciation for trusting her with the ministry to her Sisters. She wrote: “We truly have a lot to be thankful for…no place like MSJ. I would like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU for your support, love and concern…I have had positive feedback and much prayerful support and I thank you for this. I am here for YOU…but I also know already that I have received much from YOU…it is an honor and privilege to be here with you and to minister with you for YOU ARE A BLESSING…you are Gift from Jesus…I do pray for each of you and place you on the paten at Eucharist and during the day I whisper your name when I know someone needs a little extra.”  She enjoyed working in pastoral ministry and had a gift of making people feel welcome. She wanted to share her love of life and of God and be there for the people and their needs. She had a special affinity for serving the elderly. She became a Hospice Chaplain in Owensboro and was also an advocate for hospital patients. She visited the sick who were homebound and also in nursing homes. She has worked with the homeless and at food banks.

Sister Diane Marie also served as Sacristan at the Motherhouse from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, she became the coordinator of the St. Angela Oratory at the Mount. In her description of her work in the Oratory, she said she collected and scanned materials on the computer and put them on discs to be saved and made available to the Sisters. She put St. Angela Oratory labels on all books and pamphlets and saved three albums of pictures. She wrote in her annals: “There are three plays on Angela that are excellent. I made this all available to our Sisters. I am starting now to bring the Sisters from the Villa over to show them what a rich and valuable history we have and to get to know Angela, Ursula and Mere Marie. This is truly Holy Ground.”  

Sister Diane Marie retired in 2016 and helped as a Receptionist at the front desk. Her health declined, but for a time she enjoyed coloring beautiful drawings to share with the Sisters.  Sister Diane Marie had some difficult struggles in life and was determined to overcome them. She had many caretakers in the Villa, and we express our appreciation for all of the Mount Saint Joseph staff who tried to make her life easier. She had the support of her community and some special friends and sponsors.

 She loved her friends and her community. She had a fondness for dogs too and had two different poodles as pets. A picture of the latest one greeted her at her door.

 And now, Sister Diane Marie, you have been greeted at the door of heaven and are reunited with some of your family. May you know the fullness of God’s love and may you rest in peace.

Comments

  1. Debbie Walker

    Sister Diane Marie was the first person I met on my initial visit to Mount St Joseph in 2002. She met my friend Ann Thomas and me at the Guest House to get us settled in. I was immediately impressed with her gracious hospitality, along with her quick wit. Sister Diane Marie was my sponsor while I prepared to become a Ursuline Associate. I will be forever grateful for our friendship. It is comforting to know that now Sister Diane Marie is at peace and resting in the arms of our loving God. Rest In Peace dear one.

  2. Anthony Shonis

    Sr. Diane Marie was great for the people of Fordsville, Ky. She is now with Fr. Joe O’Donnell, her long time friend and co-worker. Fr. Anthony Shonis

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