Date of death: 3/19/2026
Saint Meinrad Class: SS 1986
Mary Anne Burkardt, SCN, 85, (formerly Sister Marianna) was born March 11,1941, in Bellevue, KY, to Robert Burkardt and Blanche Hoff. She died March 19, 2026, in Louisville, KY. She was a Sister of Charity of Nazareth for 63 years.
As the firstborn child of 8, young Mary Anne was very helpful to her mother, assisting with her younger siblings and household chores. Her help was especially needed during the years her father served with the Army in WWII. When her father returned after four years of service, Mary Anne would attend daily Mass with him. When Sister Mary Anne felt a call to become a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, it was difficult to leave her family. She was nineteen years old when she left home for the convent on September 8, 1960. She would make her first vows three years later.
Sister Mary Anne’s earliest ministries were in education as a primary school teacher and principal. In Kentucky, she served at St. Joseph, St. Gabriel, St. Matthias, and St. Agnes. From 1970-1975, she helped with the beginnings and early growth of The de Paul School in Louisville, a school for children with learning differences.
She served her Sisters in the SCN Community in many ways. Over the years at Nazareth, she served as director of on-going development, director of retirement, and director of senior services. She also was active with the SCN Associate Program, serving on the Core Council and participating in Associate events.
Wanting to serve people on a spiritual level, Sister Mary Anne was pastoral minister at St. Francis of Assisi and St. Albert the Great, in Louisville. She brought her desire to serve in this way to Nazareth Home as director of mission and pastoral care. Upon her retirement in 2010, she continued to volunteer with Nazareth Home for many more years.
Sister Mary Anne is survived by siblings Nick Burkardt, Patty B Ramsey, Sara Lee (Sally) Wood, Kathy B Jeffers, Robert A Burkardt, Tony Burkardt, Thomas Burkardt, her extended family and her SCN Community.