Marie (Charles Marie) Neff, BVM
Sister Marie (Charles Marie) Neff, BVM, 90, died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at Caritas Center in Dubuque, Iowa.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, in the Marian Hall Chapel. Burial was in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
She was born June 11, 1929, in Kansas City, Mo., to Charles and Mary Riley Neff. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1946, from St. Joseph Parish, Shawnee, Kan. She professed first vows on March 19, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954.
Sister Marie was an elementary teacher at St. Paul, San Francisco; St. Vincent, Petaluma, Calif.; St. Bridget, Omaha, Neb.; Sacred Heart, Lincoln, Neb.; St. Thomas Aquinas, Wichita, Kan.; St. Catherine, Hickman Mills, Mo.; and St. Regis, Kansas City, Mo., where she also served as principal. She was an office staff member in Bonner Springs, Kans.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Mary Ellen Hueneke, Margaret Driskill, and Helen Theno; brothers: Charles and John Neff. She is survived by a sister Catherine Hashman, Lenexa, Kan.; nieces, nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 73 years.
Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.
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So sad at sister’s passing. I have known her for a longtime. She was principal at St Regis when my children went there. Our paths crossed again when I was director at the early Ed center that was in the convent. She would come down and see the children every morning. Prayers for sister.
Fond memories of her. My Dad affectionately always called her “Chuck”. Always ready for a softball game and a beer with the big Pollock. Rest in Peace, Sister Charles Marie. You were a light for many.
Sister Marie is my aunt, sister to my Mom, Catherine…I have so many fond memories of her…she was a very kind person…I never heard her say a mean or cross word about anyone…if she heard you say anything mean or contrary about anyone she would say, “oh Annie you don’t really mean that”….she loved her Royals baseball team and her Chiefs football team…..Sister touched many, many lives in a positive way during her life….she will be truly missed….RIP my angel aunt!!
Sister was the best principal ever. I was in the 8th grade at St Regis when I first met her. Throughout the years I kept in contact with her and always appreciated her kind words of wisdom and praise. She was also a huge KC Royals fan and I loved to see when she would wear her satin Royals jacket. I always remember her favorite saying, “ Use your head for for than just a hat rack.” I will always remember and cherish her for making a great person. Rest In Peace Sister Marie.
My favorite memory is Sister winning a new station wagon on WHB radio. And how proud she was to drive the other nuns around. It was the talk of St. catherines
She was one of the teachers that help shape my life im sorry to hear about her passing away.
Sr. Marie was my principal while I attended St. Regis in the 80s. Such sweet memories of her. Biggest memory is 1985 when the Royals went to the World Series. She let us be “out of uniform” by wearing royals shirts over our uniforms when they won.
Was definitely an influence on young girls girls growing up
Sr. Marie is my Aunt and a precious part of my life. One memory that has been with me since childhood is …
A hot humid day in August in Kansas. I am 8 years old and we are having a picnic at my Grandpa and Grandma Neff’s house. We are playing baseball and Sr. Marie is pitching in her full habit but with tennis shoes on. I think they were blue. We paused the game for some “liquid refreshment” and Sister offers me some of her beer – But, ONLY THE FOAM! M-m-m-m. So Good!
Thank you, Sister, for being a special part of my life growing up.
I just today learned of Sister Marie’s passing. Thinking back on my time around Sr Marie brings back really great memories. Three of my children went to St Regis while Sr Marie was principal. I was very involved with St Regis and the KC Diocese back in the 70’s. I served on the St Regis School Board, which put me in even closer contact with Sr Marie. And for all the years I spent at St Regis, Sr Marie was a great administrator and an even better friend of all that were interested in the welfare of our children and their educations, both academic and religious. I read the other comments and certainly agree with her love of the Royals and the Chiefs. Somehow Sister came up with a football signed by the Chiefs players on their Super Bowl team. I don’t recall why, but one day Sister came to me with that football and asked me to take it. Over the nearly 50 years since that Super Bowl, I never look at that football without thinking instantly with my favorite nun of all times, Sister Marie. Rest in Peace my friend.
Sister Charles Marie taught me in 5th and 6th grade at St Catherine’s in Hickman Hills. I came from a very difficult home, and always felt like she had her arm around me. She loved sports. She was the most significant teacher in my life. I remember her. I love her and miss her. Tom Miller