A funeral Mass was celebrated for Sister Philip Marie Link, SSND, Sept. 18 at the School Sisters of Notre Dame Theresa Center chapel in south St. Louis County. Sister Philip Marie died Sept. 11 at Anna House at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton. She was 93 and a former teacher, administrator, tutor and homebound minister.
Born in Quincy, Ill., Sister Philip Marie entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1943. She professed first vows in 1946 and final vows in 1952. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Loyola University in New Orleans, in 1956, and a master’s in education from Saint Louis University in 1966.
Sister Philip Marie ministered in elementary education for 56 years. She taught at Sacred Heart in New Orleans; St. Liborius in St. Louis; St. Aloysius Gonzaga in St. Louis; St. Anthony in Sullivan; Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Herrin, Ill.; St. Philip in East St. Louis, Ill.; Holy Angels in East St. Louis; St. Louis in Nokomis, Ill.; St. Mary in New Berlin, Ill.; and St. Cabrini in Springfield, Ill.. She also served as a principal at Holy Angels, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Anthony and St. Louis. In 2002, Sister Philip Marie ministered to the homebound in St. Cabrini Parish for 12 years. She was missioned to Veronica House in 2014.
Sister Philip Marie was an elementary educator with a great love for the children entrusted to her care. A deeply spiritual woman, she trusted God in the various assignments she was given during her years of ministry. Her favorite prayer was “May I experience the joy of life in your presence, O God.”
She is survived her siblings, Bob Link of Des Plaines, Ill.; Jack Link of Springfield, Ill.; Paul Link of Appleton, Wis.; Jim Link of Loraine, Ill.; Phyllis LaRoche of Quincy, Ill.; Dolores Neumann of Crown Point, Ind.; and Barbara Zimmerman of Springfield, Ill.
Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa Cemetery.