- March 20, 2021 Obituaries
(S. Mary Audrey)
March 18, 1934 – March 18, 2021
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Audrey Goebel, who passed away on March 18, 2021, her 87th birthday, at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sister Audrey, baptized Phyllis Ann, was born on March 18, 1934, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to parents Gilbert F. and Clarene (Westbrook) Goebel. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1952, and made her final profession on August 15, 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College in 1966 and a master’s degree in instructional materials/media specialist from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 1971.
Sister Audrey engaged in a wide range of ministries and service opportunities, beginning as a teacher. She taught at St. Cecilia Grade School in Peoria, Illinois (1955-57) and St. Roch Grade School in Indianapolis (1957-58). In St. Louis, she taught at St. Leo (1958-1960) and St. Roch (1960-1961) grade schools. She then went on to teach at St. Catherine of Siena Grade School in Denver, Colorado, from 1961 to 1964, followed by a year at Visitation Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri.
Sister Audrey returned to the St. Louis area in 1964, where she taught junior high at Saints John & James the Greater in Ferguson (1964-1968). She then served as principal at St. Gregory in St. Ann until 1971. During the next four years, Sister Audrey taught in several locations: St. Mary on the Hill Grade School in Augusta, Georgia (1971-73); Little Flower Grade School in Mobile, Alabama; and St. Bede the Venerable Grade School in Chicago (1974-75).
She volunteered at Rockhaven Ecozoic Center in House Springs and as a driver for her CSJ community for a year. She was the resource center coordinator at St. Joseph Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin (1976-77). Sister Audrey returned to education, teaching at St. Francis de Sales Grade School in Denver (1977-78), and serving as the religious education director at All Saints Grade School (1978-79).
Sister Audrey then moved into media and production work. During the years of 1979 to 1981, she produced the Mass for the Radio and TV Office of the St. Louis Archdiocese and worked as a staff member at Horizons Unlimited, a product director at Continental Cablevision and a producer/director at Vital Productions. She brought these skills to her work in education as the media specialist/librarian for St. John the Baptist High School (1981-86). Sister Audrey was an education consultant for at McMillan Publishing Company (1986-88) and a technical librarian for Union Electric Company (1988).
Sister Audrey served her CSJ community by working on special projects as a media consultant (1988-2004) and as a driver for her community (2000-2017). She was also an author and editor of children’s books. She retired in 2017.
Since 2018, Sister Audrey resided at Nazareth Living Center carrying out her mission of prayer and presence.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899. Donate online.