ST. LOUIS – Sister Marie Elizabeth “Sister Liz” Koehler, RSM, age 73, of St. Louis, Misourri, died Jan. 18, 2023, in hospice care at Catherine’s Residence, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Born the eldest of seven children, Sister Liz dedicated her life to serving others.

Born Jan. 25, 1949, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sister Liz graduated from St. Edward Elementary School in 1963 and Mt. St. Mary’s in 1967, both in Little Rock. After graduating from “the Mount,” she entered the Sisters of Mercy Novitiate in St. Louis. Continuing her education, Sister Liz received her Bachelors of Arts in social studies from Maryville College, St. Louis, in 1973 with an elementary education certificate. While continuing in her ministry, she received her Masters of Science in counseling at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, in 1986, and a certificate in spiritual direction from the Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, in 1997.

Sister Liz’s call to self-sacrifice and service sustained her through teaching at Christ the King School, Fort Smith, Arkansas; St. Patrick School, Meridian, Mississippi; St. Joan of Arc School, St. Louis; serving as a child care worker at Mercita Hall, St. Louis; parish ministry at St. Richard Church, Jackson, Mississippi; as spiritual director in Little Rock; and bereavement coordinator at Mercy Medical facilities in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Springfield, Missouri.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert L. Koehler, Sr., and Mary Ellen (Penny) Koehler and brother Dennis Koehler.

In addition to her love of her family, Sister Liz enjoyed scrapbooking, sewing, cake decorating, photography, reading and traveling.