ST. LOUIS — Sister Joseph Miriam (Jo) Nemec, SSND, died Aug. 27 at Anna House-The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Mo. She was 80 and a former teacher, retreat center director and artist.
The funeral Mass was held Sept. 1 in the School Sisters of Notre Dame Theresa Center chapel in south St. Louis County. Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery.
Sister Jo was born in St. Louis. She entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1949 from St. Michael in Shrewsbury, Mo. She professed first vows in 1952 and final vows in 1958. She celebrated her 60th jubilee as a School Sister of Notre Dame this year. She earned a bachelor's degree in art from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis in 1962 and a master's degree in home economic education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1974.
Sister Jo taught elementary students at Sacred Heart, Effingham (1952-60) and St. Francis de Sales, St. Louis, for the first 10 years following her religious profession. She was then asked to teach home economics at St. Francis de Sales High School. After seven years, she was missioned to St. Alphonsus "Rock" High School, St. Louis, for two years and taught home economics at Quincy Notre Dame High School from 1972-83. After 30 years in the classroom, she became the coordinator/director of the former Caroline Conference and Retreat Center at the School Sisters of Notre Dame St. Louis campus from 1983-92.
At the age of 60, Sister Jo became a freelance artist specializing in watercolor painting and photography. She sold many of her paintings to various individuals and groups, held a number of one-woman art shows in various places and received many awards. She was well known for her realistic depictions of small animals, flowers, landscapes, house portraits and seascapes. She completed hundreds of paintings and exhibited in a number of states during her "retirement" years. She also taught watercolor classes at Maria Center on the School Sisters of Notre Dame St. Louis campus.
She is survived by a brother, Joseph G. Nemec of Festus, Mo.
Memorial contributions may be made to the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Mission Advancement, 320 E. Ripa Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63125-2897.