Sister Carol Ann Ptacek SL

Sister Carol Ann Ptacek SL died April 29, 2023, at Loretto Living Center, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, KY. She was 82 and in the 62nd year of her Loretto commitment. Born April 7, 1941, in St. Louis, to Anita (Brown) and William C. Ptacek. Received into the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross on May 31, 1962. Sr. Carol Ann earned a B.A. in Latin in 1965 from Webster College (now University) in St. Louis and a master's in nursing in 1970 from New York Medical College Graduate School of Nursing, Valhalla, NY. Sister Carol Ann's first mission was to teach Latin and religion at Loretto Academy High School, El Paso, Texas. For two summers she worked as a nurse's aide in the Loretto Motherhouse nursing facility and then served as a part-time aide for a year at Nazareth Hall in El Paso while she continued to teach on a part-time basis. After three years Sr. Carol Ann knew she had to decide to teach or to nurse. She chose nursing, which proved to be a good decision. After two-plus years at a graduate school of nursing, she earned a master's in nursing and became a registered nurse. Sister Carol Ann retired from nursing after nearly 45 years caring for the Sisters of Loretto and lay residents in Loretto's nursing facilities, including as director of nursing at Nazareth Hall (1970-1985), health care coordinator at the Denver Loretto Center (1985-1992), as a nurse at Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary (1992-1995), and as a Convent Community nurse at Loretto Motherhouse (1995-2015). After retiring, Sr. Carol Ann served as a volunteer at the Motherhouse in the Loretto Finance Office and wherever needed. Preceding her in death were her parents and her sister, Jacqueline (Steve) Brightwell of Fenton, Mo. She is survived by her siblings William (Sandy) Ptacek of Plano, Texas; Frank (Patricia) Ptacek of Chevy Chase, Md.; Katherine (Wesley) White of Denham Springs, La.; Barbara (Vito) DiMaggio of St. Louis; and Thomas (Cathy) Ptacek of Kirkwood, Mo. A wake for Sr. Carol Ann will take place at 6:30 pm ET Sunday, May 7, with her funeral Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. ET Monday, May 8, both at Loretto Motherhouse. Burial in Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Loretto for our mission, c/o Loretto Motherhouse, 515 Nerinx Road, Nerinx, KY 40049 or as an online gift at www.lorettocommunity.org.

LINKS

Mattingly Funeral Home

http://www.mattinglyfuneralhome.con

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

http://www.stltoday.com