August 14, 1946 – July 22, 2024

Sister Madeline Kelly, OSU, died peacefully on July 22, 2024, in Eureka, Missouri. She was 77.

The daughter of Howard D. and Julia Robino Kelly, she was born on Aug. 14, 1946, in Washington, DC. She entered the Ursuline community on July 19, 1965, and professed her vows on Jan. 20, 1968. She received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Xavier University in New Orleans and a master’s in studio art from the College of New Rochelle.

Sister Madeline was an artist and art teacher who ministered primarily in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas. Her first assignment was teaching art to elementary pupils at Ursuline Academy in Dallas from 1974-76, after which she taught secondary students there and was head of the art department from 1976-83. She taught at Ursuline Academy in New Orleans from 1983-84.

In 1985, she moved to San Antonio, where she ministered for the next 36 years. At Ursuline Academy, she served in campus ministry from 1985-90, was assistant principal from 1989-90 and registrar from 1991-92. She was director of liturgical ministries at St. Brigid Catholic Church from 1992-94 and served in adult faith development there from 1994-99. From 1999-2000, she had an adult faith formation ministry at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. She taught at Providence High School in San Antonio from 2000-02 and was chaplain for Santa Rosa Hospice from 2002-08.

Upon retirement, she remained in San Antonio, where she continued to paint and exhibit her icons, for which she was well known. She also led prayer and spiritual workshops at St. Brigid, helped with the planning of a faith historical museum at St. Paul Church, worked with persons experiencing homeless at Haven for Hope, and visited critically ill patients in their homes.

Sister Madeline moved to Dallas in 2021, then to Eureka in 2022.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Janice Fernandez (Abert). Survivors include brothers Howard D. Kelly and Bart W. Kelly (Gloria), sister Karen Dukes (John), six nieces and nephews, three grand-nieces and one grand-nephew.

A funeral Mass was celebrated July 29 at Ursuline Chapel in Kirkwood, Missouri, followed by interment at St. Peter Cemetery.