Sister Paula Patrice, baptized Ester Jane, was born on Nov. 26, 1925, in Loveland, Colorado, to Jay Ludger and Aurelie Mary (Orleans) Michaud. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1943 and was received into the novitiate in 1944. She received a bachelor’s degree in French/education from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1956 and a master’s degree in elementary education administration from the University of Colorado in 1972.

Sister Paula Patrice began her 75 years of service teaching at St. Matthew the Apostle School in St. Louis for seven years. She then taught at Holy Cross School in Champaign, Illinois, in the early 1950s.

In 1956, she began 10 years of service in the Diocese of Honolulu. She taught at Christ the King School on Maui, was principal and teacher at Holy Rosary School on Maui, and taught at St. Anthony School on Oahu.

After leaving Hawaii, Sister Paula Patrice served 16 years in Denver. She began teaching at St. Catherine of Siena School, then was principal and teacher at St. Patrick School before finishing her service in Denver as principal at St. Catherine of Siena School.

In 1982, Sister Paula Patrice began 24 years of service in the Diocese of Tucson. She ended her ministry of education as principal at Our Mother of Sorrow School in 1986 and began nearly 20 years in health care at St. Joseph Hospital in the medical library. She celebrated both her 50th and 60th jubilees in Tucson and remembered her time there fondly.

She retired to St. Louis in 2006 where she served in volunteer ministry for her CSJ community and was sacristan for the Perpetual Help Chapel in the Carondelet Motherhouse.

Since 2022, Sister Paula resided at Nazareth Living Center, where she carried out her ministry of prayer and presence.

Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.

An RSVP is required for the funeral Mass and luncheon at stlreview.com/3m7FK3y. The Mass will be available to view via livestream at stlreview.com/3ZJmWFy.