Remembrance of the Life of Sister Mary Louise Denny SL

Sister Mary Louise Denny died July 22, 2026, while en route home to Loretto Motherhouse from University Hospital in Lexington, Ky. She was 80 years old and in the 62nd year of her religious commitment. Maria Visse and other Community members accompanied Mary Louise in her final days and nights.

Mary Louise’s body was donated to the University of Louisville. Her wake/memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. ET Saturday, Aug. 29, at Loretto Motherhouse. Those interested in attending are asked to email communications@lorettocommunity.org.

The third of eight children of Anna Mae (nee Boning) and William M. Denny, she was born March 8, 1946, in Carmel-By-The-Sea, Calif., where her father, a U.S. Army major, was stationed while recovering from injuries sustained as a prisoner of war during World War II. Fondly called “Squeezie” by her brothers, Mary Louise grew up in Richmond Heights, attended St. Luke Elementary School and graduated from Nerinx Hall in 1964. She was received into the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross May 31, 1965. She earned a bachelor’s degree in theology in 1969 from Webster College and an R.N. from DePaul Hospital’s nursing program in 1975.

During her years in St. Louis, Sisterr Mary Louise taught at the “Rock” Community Middle School (1969-1970) and New City School (1970-1972). She served as a nurse at City Hospital (1975-1976) and was part of Loretto’s Social Change Team: Women (1976-1981). She then taught at Jewish Employment Vocational Services (1981-1982) and was a member of the Loretto Central Staff/Program Staff (1982-2001). During these years, she helped create the St. Louis Abused Women’s Support Project Inc. to confront domestic violence in the community and helped secure funding for the Motherhouse garden honoring those who died of AIDS – a place of welcome for families and friends. In 1984, her name appeared in a New York Times statement acknowledging the diversity of opinion among Catholics regarding abortion. As a nurse, she also served “on call” as a healthcare advocate for the St. Louis Loretto Community from 2002 to 2023.

For many years, Sister Mary Louise worked closely with her dear friend, Loretto Sister Susan Carol McDonald, supporting her work with Vietnamese War adoptees and their families, including planning reunions and Vietnam motherland tours. Sister Mary Louise served on the initial board of Marian Middle School, was a member of the Intercommunity Housing Association Board and was a longtime Nerinx Hall board member.  

In 2023, Sister Mary Louise moved to Loretto Motherhouse, where she continued to support the Community until her death. She celebrated her 60^th jubilee in 2025. Sister Mary Louise described her six decades of ministry as a “spiral — a pattern of working, learning, applying those experiences into a new work, more learning, combining these experiences into yet another work, more learning.” She traced that spiral from teaching, to studying the human body, to nursing school, to teaching the unemployed nursing skills. “All the while,” she said, “trying to integrate values I learned in Loretto with employment — to unionize nurses at City Hospital in St. Louis, to take part in starting a women’s free clinic in St. Louis.” Her later work on the Loretto Community’s administrative staff, she added, “called on every creative thread I might have” – her skills as a teacher, nurse, organizer, Community member “and a responsible member of the world community.”

She noted then, that along with her work life, she had learned the value of friendship. “We are Friends of Mary, not team members, colleagues or relatives. We are friends — a skill not easily learned and sometimes even harder to live. But this gift is perhaps the most important of all. All of this — a spiral of working, learning, creating and learning again. I am grateful to Loretto for encouraging me and supporting me in this creative adventure for the last 60 years.”

Sister Mary Louise was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Joseph H. Denny, Richard H. Denny and Thomas F. Denny. She is survived by her sister, Jane S. Sanders of Webster Groves, and three brothers, Michael Denny of Chiang Mai, Thailand; Ryan Denny of O’Fallon, Ill.; and Ramon Denny of Glendale, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Sister Mary Louise donated her body to the University of Louisville. A wake/memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. CDT Saturday, Aug. 29, at Loretto Motherhouse.  

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Loretto for our mission, c/o Loretto Motherhouse, 430 Academy Lane, Nerinx, KY 40049 or as an online gift at www.lorettocommunity.org.  

Please keep Sister Mary Louise, her family and all her loved ones in your prayers. May she rest in peace.