Sister Maria Goretti Lovett, O.S.U.

Ursuline Sister of Louisville Maria Goretti Lovett, OSU, age 90, died on November 25 at Nazareth Home-Clifton. Born Esther Virginia to Hopson and Elizabeth Creason Lovett, and a native of Columbia, South Carolina, she entered the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville in 1951. She celebrated her 70th jubilee in 2021.

Sister Maria Goretti obtained a bachelor’s degree from Ursuline College, Louisville, and a master's degree from Cleveland State University. A graduate of Ursuline High School (now Cardinal Newman School), in Columbia, South Carolina, she was inducted into the school's Alumni Hall of Fame in 2015.

In Louisville, Sister taught at Holy Spirit (1954–58) and Our Lady of Lourdes (1963–68) parish schools in Louisville. She also taught in Morgantown, West Virginia, and spent 48 years teaching at parish schools in Columbia, South Carolina, until her retirement in 2016. Sister Maria’s last teaching assignment was at St. Joseph Catholic School in Columbia, where she taught for 41 years and was known as the kickball queen, as she pitched kickball every school day at recess.

Sister Maria Goretti is survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as her community of Ursuline Sisters and Associates. Visitation will be held from 4–6 pm on November 30 in the Motherhouse Heritage Room, with Vigil at 4 pm. The funeral Mass will be held at 10 am in the Motherhouse Heritage Room on December 1, with burial to follow in St. Michael Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Louisville and mailed to the Donor Relations Office, 3115 Lexington Road, Louisville, KY 40206.