SR Barbara Baer

Baer, Sister Barbara, CSJ, age 74, entered eternal life May 19, 2011. The oldest of seven children born to Howard and Geneva Baer, Barbara entered the Sisters of St. Joseph the year following graduation from St. Mary's Cathedral High School in Wichita and received the name Sister Mary Jeanne. Following Vatican Council II she returned to her baptismal name. An educator, Sister Barbara taught and served as principal in Catholic elementary schools in Kansas from 1957 to 1972. During these years she also earned a bachelor's degree from St. Mary of the Plains College, Dodge City, KS, and a master's degree in modern European history from Marquette University. After earning a Ph.D. from Marquette University in the same field in 1976, she joined the faculty of St. Mary of the Plains College. She served as vice-president for academic affairs there from 1980 until 1984 when she was elected assistant general superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wichita, a position she held until 1992. Since 1994 Sister Barbara has been active in the CSSJ Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, co-chairing planning committees for national events, working full time on the Federation's Collaborative History Project and serving as Federation archivist. She served as an instructor in the of the Tradition Institutea program of intensive study of the charism and spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph. In addition to the members of her religious community, Sister Barbara is survived by her sister Beverly Noel, Vian, OK, and brothers Howard, Jr., San Antonio, TX, Ted, Norman, OK, and Stephen, Batesville, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joseph and her sister Jeanne Sears. Wake service 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 22; Mass of Christian Burial 4:00 p.m. Monday, May 23. Both will be held at the Wichita Center of the Congregation of St. Joseph, 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita.

Memorial contributions may be made to CSJ Dear Neighbor Ministries, Inc., 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218. DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary.