Aston, PA—Sister Mary Louise Heinle (formerly Sister Kathleen Joseph), OSF, 94, died in Assisi House on September 5, 2022. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 73 years. Sister Mary Louise was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was a member of St. Elizabeth Parish and a graduate of The Catholic High School of Baltimore. She entered the congregation in 1947 and professed her first vows in 1949. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Villanova University. Sister Mary Louise ministered primarily in elementary and secondary education.

Sister Mary Louise served for 62 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  She began her teaching in elementary education and taught at St. Benedict School in Philadelphia; Nativity BVM School, Media; and St. Francis School, Bryn Mawr. Her focus then shifted to secondary education.  She spent 25 years teaching math, science, and religious studies at St. Maria Goretti High School.  She also taught math for five years each at John W. Hallahan High School and St. Hubert High School and spent nine years teaching at Shrine of the Little Flower High School, all in Philadelphia. Since 2011, Sister Mary Louise served in prayer and hospitality ministry in Assisi House, where she lived at the time of her death.

Additional ministry work included teaching for 10 years at St. Anthony High School in the Diocese of Trenton and one year at St. Lawrence School, Catasauqua, in the Diocese of Allentown.

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pennsylvania, on Friday, September 9 and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Mary Louise is survived by several nieces and nephews and their families, and her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

For a more personal write-up about Sister Mary Louise, click here.

The livestream will begin at 9:30 A.M. To access the livestream, click here: https://livestream.com/accounts/18363082/srmarylouiseheinle.