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Sister Patricia “Pat” Frueh SL, formerly Sister Vincent Marie, died Nov. 15, 2025, at the Loretto Living Center on the grounds of Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky. She was 92 and in the 73rd year of her Loretto commitment.
Sister Pat was born May 5, 1933, to Ethyl (Heine) and John Frueh in Afton. She was received into the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross April 25, 1953. Sister Pat earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1957 and a master’s in teaching in religious education in 1969, both from Webster College (now Webster University), Webster Groves; and in 1987 an associate’s degree in nursing from Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, Colorado, and certification as a registered nurse.
Sister Pat devoted her ministry to teaching, religious education and nursing across Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and New Mexico. In Missouri, she taught at St. Cronan School, St. Louis (1957-1958); taught and served as primary coordinator at St. Ferdinand, Florissant (1958-1964); taught at St. Ann, Normandy (1964-1966), Immaculate Conception, Maplewood (1969-1971) and later coordinated religious education at Our Lady of the Americas School, Kansas City (1978-1979).
In Kentucky, she taught at St. Jerome School, Fairdale (1966-1969), where she also coordinated religion (1971-1975) and served in the same role at St. Bernard, Louisville (1979-1982).
In Iowa, she taught at Creston Catholic Community School (1975-1978) and in New Mexico at St. Francis School, Santa Fe (1983-1986).
In Kentucky, Sister Pat served as a nurse at Loretto Motherhouse Infirmary, Nerinx, (1987-1992); on staff at Care Tenders, Elizabethtown, (1993-1994) and with Lincoln Trail Home Health/Washington County Health Services, in Springfield and Lebanon (1994-1998). She continued as a community health nurse, volunteer and hospice worker in eastern Kentucky (1998-2000), then joined Loretto Motherhouse Ministry and Health Ministry (2001-2002).
From 2002 to 2004, she was secretary to the service coordinator at Loretto Motherhouse, where from 2004 to 2008 she also tended to the gardens and canning before returning to St. Louis as a part-time nurse at Loretto Center, Webster Groves, and caregiver and nurse with Senior Helpers (2008-2013).
Moving to Loretto Motherhouse, she served as part-time convent nurse and gardener (2013-2016). In her later years, she enjoyed gardening, was considered an excellent cook and baker and was a practitioner of “healing touch” massage. She also assisted with driving the sisters and served as a eucharistic minister in the Loretto Infirmary.
Pat was known for random acts of kindness, bringing unexpected delight to all she touched until her death. In summing up her ministry, she had once written, “Overall, I am blessed to have a religious vocation and have enjoyed my ministries. I thank all who were instrumental in my becoming a Sister of Loretto.”
Preceding her in death were her parents; her brother John (Jack) E. Frueh and two sisters, Claudine T. Moore and Margaret A. Shepherd.
She is survived by her siblings, William D. (Denise) Frueh of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Charles F. (Martha) Frueh of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and many special nieces and nephews.
A wake for Sister Pat took place Nov. 23, with a funeral Mass celebrated Nov. 24, by the Rev. Terry Bradshaw, both at Loretto Motherhouse. Burial was in Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Loretto for our mission, c/o Loretto Motherhouse, 515 Nerinx Road, Nerinx, KY 40049 or as an online gift at www.lorettocommunity.org.