Sister Ann Chamblin, CSJ

(S. Robert Ellen)
June 30, 1930 - May 6, 2020

A woman of humor, kindness and encouragement

Robert and Helene (Evelly) Chamblin of St. Louis, Missouri, welcomed their seventh child, Ann, on June 30, 1930. Of the older children, one died at birth and two others before the age of four. Ann grew up with an older sister and two older brothers. No little girls lived in their neighborhood, so her brother Tom let her follow him around. Ann was delighted with the fantasy world of forts and tunnels built by the neighborhood boys. She began school in the public system, but, in December of third grade, she transferred to St. Anne’s School, taught by the Sisters of Loretto. Living across a field from Incarnate Word Academy, Ann expected to go there for high school. Her mother’s choice was St. Joseph’s Academy—an hour and three buses away. She wanted to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph right after high school, but her dad was not in favor so she studied at Fontbonne for a year. Ann entered Carondelet on September 15, 1949. On March 19, 1950, she received the habit and name Sister Robert Ellen.

Sister Ann’s ministry of teaching primary students began at Our Lady of the Presentation in St. Louis (1952). St. Roch’s in Indianapolis, Indiana, was next in 1956. It was also the year she received her bachelor’s degree in history from Fontbonne College. In 1960, it was on to Visitation in Kansas City, Missouri, followed by one semester at American Martyrs, Kingsford, Michigan (1964); Saints John & James, Ferguson, Missouri (1964), and a return to Our Lady of the Presentation (1969). She then taught religious education at St. Blaise, St. Louis in 1972 and primary grades at Our Lady of Lourdes, University City, Missouri, in 1973.

Receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (October 1973) didn’t stop S. Ann, but it certainly tried to slow her down. As she continued to work in various ministries over the years, she was quite ill every so often. Whenever she felt better, she continued serving others.

Remaining in St. Louis, in 1975, S. Ann was the director of religious education at St. Blaise. Then, in 1976, she served at Holy Name Parish, first as a volunteer worker, then pastoral minister, and, finally, as religious education director. Next, she was the coordinator of services at St. Charles Lwanga Center (1981), followed by pastoral assistant at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (1982).

After a brief sabbatical, S. Ann studied clinical pastoral education at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois, and at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. She then served at St. Joseph Carondelet Child Center in Chicago as the religious education coordinator from 1986 to 1989. During the early 1990s, S. Ann served in several positions throughout Missouri: assistant manager of geriatric care, DuBourg House, St. Louis (1989); pastoral minister, St. Peter’s Church, Jefferson City (1991); pastoral minister, St. Andrew’s Parish, Tipton (1994); and assistant manager for geriatrics, Manresa House, Florissant (1995). In 1996, she began Sister Ann’s Elder Care-Home Service. Then, in 1997, she founded and was director of CSJ Home Care, a ministry staffed by different religious communities, providing home care to the elderly to extend their independence.

S. Ann retired in 2003. She was the hospitality liaison at the Carondelet Motherhouse from 2008 to 2010. She then volunteered at St. Joseph Health Center in Kansas City until retiring to Nazareth Living Center in 2011.

Ann was very concerned for the poor. [She] had a great heart, lived simply and also loved travel. —S. Barbara Jennings.

She had a bright and kind spirit. —A. Dorothy Dempsey

S. Ann was always aware of those who were needy, e.g. the dear neighbor. She had such an appreciation for the staff who worked at Nazareth and their families. Likewise, she was interested in the details of the lives of all her family and friends. In her own way, she was a “busy body”—but such a lovable one! —Marilyn Witte Fitzgerald, Our Lady of the Presentation Class of 1959

By Sister Helen Oates