Jubilarian 2020 - Sister Bonnie Ann Murray

Sister Bonnie Ann Murray was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1959 and was received into the novitiate in 1960 as Sister Elizabeth Paul. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Fontbonne College in 1965, a master’s degree in secondary music education from the University of Oregon in 1973, and a certificate in gerontology from Saint Mary- of-the-Woods College in 1986.

From 1964 to 1966, Sister Bonnie gave private piano lessons and directed the children’s choir at both St. Luke the Evangelist and Immacolata grade schools in St. Louis, and then at St. Viator Grade School in Chicago for a year.

In 1967, she went on to teach at the Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute in Peoria, Illinois. Nine years later, she taught music and served in campus ministry at St. Thomas of Aquinas High School in Florissant, Missouri.

In 1980, Sister Bonnie stepped away from teaching music and began serving her CSJ community as a staff member (1980-87) and then community life coordinator (1987-96) at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis. She returned to music as the director of music at St. Martin of Tours Parish in St. Louis in 1997 and remained in that position for nine years.

Sister Bonnie then served as the director of senior ministry for her CSJ community from 2006 to 2016. That same year, she retired to the Village at Nazareth in St. Louis. She currently volunteers for her community in the Community Life Department at Nazareth Living Center. She also serves on the CSJ Heritage Committee and on the CSJ Associate Leadership Board.

In addition, she is also an accomplished pianist. Currently, she is teaching two piano students, and can be heard playing at events for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

She enjoys reading; knitting; attending symphonies, musicals and Ageless Learning seminars; and solving jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles.