Sister Gloria Kellerman, age 93, of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana, died on November 2, 2025, at the Motherhouse in Oldenburg, Indiana. Born on December 20, 1931, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the second of four children born to the late Francis and Cecilia (nee: Sieber) Kellerman. Her father worked as a monotype keyboard operator at Mountel Press and her mother a housewife. As a family, they always attended Sunday afternoon services.
Sister Gloria attended St. Teresa of Avila Grade School and Seton High School then went on to Marian College (now University) in Indianapolis, Indiana and Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She first learned of the Sisters of St. Francis from her great aunt, who was a Franciscan Third Order member. Her interest grew as she learned of St. Francis in her early youth and related to Francis’ ideas on life. Sister Gloria took her final vows on August 12, 1956.
Sister Gloria spent forty years teaching primary grades in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. She also taught adult education for another twelve years, teaching Reading, Math and English for preparation of G.E.D.’s. One of Sister Gloria’s favorite pastimes was visiting the Cincinnati Zoo. Her family gave her a pass, and she would visit on Sunday afternoons. Her favorite thing to do there was watch the many antics of the gorillas. When she could no longer get to the zoo, she had a zoo guidebook that she would look through, reliving the many memories she made there. She also enjoyed art and drawing.
Sister Gloria returned to the Motherhouse upon retirement in 2004. Here she took on the role of sitting with retired Sister Jean Sora, who was looking for a companion. Together they would talk, joke, and watch television. The news and Let’s Make a Deal were their favorites. She sat with her every day for fifteen years.
Sister Gloria is survived by family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and sisters Mary (Paul) Benken, Cecilia Kellerman, and Joan Kellerman.
Prayer and visitation will be Thursday, November 6 at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Mass at 10:30 a.m., all at the convent chapel. The burial will be at the Motherhouse Cemetery in Oldenburg. For those unable to attend, services will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/5abP8dvg0A4?feature=share
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana 47036 Donate Online – SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS (oldenburgfranciscans.org). For online condolences, please go to www.weigelfh.com.