By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sister Mary Mercedes

PARK HILLS, Ky. - Sister Mary Mercedes Louy, who taught history in Northern Kentucky for four decades, died Thursday at St. Joseph Heights Provincial House. She was 91.

She was born RoseMarie Louy in 1911 in Toledo, where she attended St. Mary's, Notre Dame Academy and Mary Marie College.

She earned a master's degree from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and did graduate work in history at Boston College and at Santa Clara (Calif.) University. She was a member of the Kappa Gamma Pi, the National Catholic College Graduate Honor Society for Catholic college graduates.

Sister Mary Mercedes became well-acquainted with the Sisters of Notre Dame in Covington, and entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province in 1939.

She taught history for five years at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, Calif; for four years at Bishop Brossart High School, Alexandria, Ky; and for 39 years, she taught American history at Notre Dame Academy, Park Hills.

"She was a well-known historian," said Sister Shauna Bankemper, SND. "She was proud of being from Toledo. She had a delightful sense of humor, a dry wit. When you'd meet her, she'd give you this broad smile."

Sister Bankemper added that in her later years, Sister Mary Mercedes was required to walk as often as possible for health reasons and could be found walking through the convent halls "brightening everyone's day".

"Sister Mary Mercedes was ... an excellent teacher and often gave joy to others by her wonderful sense of humor," said Sister Mary Rose Paul, SND.

She is survived by a number of nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Heights Provincial House, 1601 Dixie Highway, Park Hills.

A wake service will take place at 5 p.m. at St. Joseph Heights Convent Chapel, followed by the Mass of Christian burial in the Chapel at 7 p.m. . She will be buried at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Convent cemetery.

Memorials: Sisters of Notre Dame, 1601 Dixie Highway, Park Hills, KY 41011.

E-mail: kandrew@enquirer.com.