Sister Leo Ann Bub CSJ

Kind, compassionate, fun-loving, grateful

Leo and Ellen (McNamee) Bub of St. Louis, Missouri, and their three daughters, welcomed twins, Theresa and Leo, on February 16, 1927. (Bill completed the family about six years later.)

Theresa and her siblings attended St. Luke’s School. She recalls that during grade school, "Father Pete coached all of our teams and because of my twin brother, he let me play football, soccer, baseball, anything with the boys, which I preferred because all the girls did was gripe and complain, and they drove me nuts."

After graduating from St. Joseph 's Academy, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 15, 1945, receiving the habit and the name Sister Leo Ann on March 19, 1946. “I contribute my vocation to my parents who were very spiritual and loving and to the Sisters of St. Joseph," she said. S. Leo Ann received a degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College and a master’s in education from St. Louis University.

Her first assignments were in St. Louis at Our Lady of Presentation (1948), St. Roch (1951) and Holy Rosary (1957). S. Maryellen Tierney, who practiced teaching under S. Leo Ann at Holy Rosary, says:

She loved her first graders and, as my supervising teacher, she taught me by her example. The first day I arrived at Holy Rosary to begin my practice teaching, she had a large classroom of first graders. She found an empty classroom and gave me a set of manuals and asked me to take half of her children ... She trusted I would be okay on my own for the weeks I was there. I reminded her the day before I left that she needed to complete an evaluation form to be returned to Fontbonne. Since she never had observed me in the classroom, we both had a good laugh, and she completed the form after observing me for a few minutes on my last day.

Sister then taught at St. Viator in Chicago (1963), followed by Nativity in St. Louis (1964) and Ste. Genevieve in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri (1966). Sisters Helen Alder and Leo Ann both taught first grade classes at Ste. Genevieve. S. Helen shared that sister ...

Was a fantastic and creative teacher ... One year she taught [her first graders] … 'T’was the Night Before Christmas.' They were so proud and went to other classes to recite with gestures and they were terrific ... She was a lovely person to live with. Always kind and cheerful.

In 1967, S. Leo Ann returned to St. Roch as principal, remaining there until 1991. S. Mary Joyce Bringer wrote, “I remember her love for St. Roch's School and … her sense of humor ...”

Her compassion was so well known that the police department often called for her help when a child was in trouble. They presented her with citations in appreciation for her help.

Next, S. Leo Ann ministered at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services (1991-2001) in a variety of ways: receptionist, secretary, gift shop manager, even as administrative secretary. Briefly in 2002, she spent time at Growing Footprints as a teacher assistant where she touched many young lives with her kindness, until she retired (2002). After living with

S. Charles Helene Feckar for almost 24 years, she said of her, “I never heard her downgrade anybody."

S. Leo Ann moved to Nazareth Living Center (2011) where, as mentioned at her memorial, she and her good friend S. Frances Virginia Cholet spent many an hour sharing stories about their wonder-filled lives.

Associate Patrick K. McDowell recalls,

S. Leo Ann was always cheerful, positive and appreciative. Sister enjoyed sharing … her memories ... The love that she had for her students was reflected in her voice as she spoke ... Whenever I helped S. Leo Ann at Nazareth Living Center, she would say, ‘Thank you, honey. I'll say a prayer for you.’

Sister Helen Oates