Sr. Karla Barker, O.S.F.'s Obituary
Sr. Mary Karla Barker, age 82 of the Srs. of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, died Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at the convent. Born November 21, 1931 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, she is the daughter of Flora (Nee: Vogelsang) and George Barker.
Sr. Karla graduated from Oldenburg Academy and worked a short time as a telephone operator before entering the convent September 8, 1950 at the age of 18, making her final vows August 12, 1956. She began teaching in 1952. In 1963 she added the job of school principal to go along with her teaching duties for the next 16 years before her career was interrupted by cancer. Schools she taught at include St. Michael's in Indianapolis, Indiana, St. Mary's in Aurora, Indiana, Holy Cross in St. Louis, Missouri, Immaculate Conception in Old Monroe, Missouri, St. Bernard's and St. Bonaventure's in Cincinnati, Ohio and St. Anthony's in Dayton, Ohio.
Following her cancer surgery and recuperation, Sr. Karla moved to Oakland, California for graduate studies prior to moving to Kingstree, South Carolina where she worked at and later managed the Springbank Retreat Center for 21 years before returning to Oldenburg. She earned an under graduate degree from Marion College in Indianapolis and a graduates degree from Holy Name University while in Oakland. In later years, she noted, "Sr. Estelle Nordmeyer's love and respect for all of creation that was instilled during my Novitiate years has motivated me in much of what I hold sacred and important in my life. When it's time for me to walk into the sunset......I pray that it will be done quietly and in "beauty".....to the soft drum beat of my Earth Mother's heart."
She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her sisters Mary Lane and Gretna Sedler. Visitation is Monday, September 22nd, from 1 - 3 p.m. at the convent chapel. Funeral services follow at 3 p.m. with Rev. John Meyer officiating and burial will be in the convent cemetery. Weigel Funeral Home (www.weigelfh.com) is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org).
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