Sister Wilfreda (Rosalie) Kern, ASC, 95, of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, Ruma Center, Ruma, died May 12, 2016. at the Ruma Center.

She was born April 26, 1921,  in Red Bud, daughter of the late Christian and Ellen Kern (nee Kelley).

She made her first vows as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ on July 1, 1938, and perpetual profession on July 1, 1943.

Sr. Wilfreda served in the teaching profession for 56 years and six years as assistant to the treasurer at Ruma. In addition to being a classroom teacher, she was the organist, choir director and principal for many of those years.

Her places of ministry included elementary schools in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. She taught in Illinois schools in O’Fallon, Lively Grove, Herrin, Evansville, Flora, St. Elizabeth in East St. Louis and at the Catholic Children’s Home and St. Matthew in Alton. She taught at Holy Rosary in Fort Dodge, Iowa. For several years she taught in Missouri at Vienna and St. Joseph, a Croatian school in St. Louis. She concluded her teaching career as a teacher aide and school secretary in Chester.

For several years she served as assistant to the treasurer of the ASC community before retiring to the Ruma Center in 2003 to begin Living Mission in later life. She continued to volunteer at the center.

Survivors include two sisters in the ASC community, Sr. Lucille and Sr. Teresita, and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Helen Schlotmann and brothers Leo, Joseph, Simon and James (who died in infancy) Kern.

Visitation is May 15, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Ruma Center Chapel, Ruma.

A wake service will be May 15, at 7 p.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be May 16, at 10:30 a.m., at Ruma Center Chapel.

Interment will follow at Convent Cemetery, Ruma.

Donations in memory of Sister Wilfreda may be sent to the ASC Retirement Fund, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63109, or online at www.adorers.org, “Support Our Ministries.”

Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home, Red Bud, is assisting the convent with arrangements.

To view this obituary and sign the register book visit www.wpfh.net.