Sister Emily Zent, OSU

Sister Emily Zent, OSUSister Emily Zent, 97, an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph, died Dec. 30, 2008, at Mount Saint Joseph. She was in her 78th year of religious life.

A native of Mott, N.D., she was an Ursuline Sister of Belleville, Ill., before the merger of that community with the Ursulines of Mount Saint Joseph in October 2005.

Sister Emily was a teacher for 39 years in schools in Illinois and North Dakota, and enjoyed getting children ready for their first Holy Communion. She retired in 1976, and became a resident of Saint Joseph Villa at Maple Mount in 2002. In her retirement, she took on the ministry of writing to prisoners and interceding for them with the authorities. She loved children and animals, and enjoyed reading the comics.

Survivors include a brother, Joseph Zent of Mott, N.D., several nieces and the members of her religious community.

The funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at Mount Saint Joseph, where visitation began Friday at 4 p.m., with a wake service following at 6:30 p.m.