Rhea Mary Lueken was born into the loving family of Helen and Ferdinand Lueken on September 16, 1942. She was their fourth and youngest child. Rhea attended St. Martin School in Cheviot, Ohio, where
she came to know the Sisters of Notre Dame. At a young age Rhea felt called to give her life to God, and so, she became an aspirant after the eighth grade, attending Notre Dame Academy. She entered the congregation on February 2, 1960, made her first profession of vows in 1962, and then was assigned to teach primary grades at St. Joseph, Cold Spring, and St. Augustine School, Covington. After her final vows in 1967, Sister Mary Judeann pursued nursing education at Lexington Technical Institute and the University of Cincinnati.
Upon receiving her B.S.N., Sister ministered as staff nurse at St. Claire HealthCare for three years and
then at St. Charles Care Center as Director of Nursing. In 1977 Sister Judeann returned to St. Claire
HealthCare as Director of Nursing and served until 1998 as Vice President of Patient Services. During
this time Sister obtained her master’s in nursing administration from the University of Kentucky.
Sister Judeann continued to serve in health care at St. Charles Care Center, Lourdes Hall, as Province
Wellness Coordinator, at Drake Hospital as Certified Wound Care Nurse, and at Twin Towers Nursing
Home. Later, Sister ministered at St. Augustine School as secretary and nurse. Sr. Judeann retired in 2015
and later moved to Lourdes Hall in January 2023.
Sister Judeann’s special way of living out her charism was her passion of simplicity, and to have God as
the center of her life, sharing the love God gave her, so she could lead others to love him more. She will
be forever remembered for her perseverance and for never surrendering to her health struggles but
offering her difficulties to God, saying “One day at a time, Sweet Jesus.” Her strength was inspiring.
Sister Mary Judeann went home to God peacefully on November 5, 2023. She was preceded in death by
her parents and sisters Nancy Lueken and Joanne Throneburg, and by her brother, Thomas J. Lueken. Sister also leaves behind her beloved sister-in-law, Patricia Lueken, and her nephews, Thomas Jr., Brian, and Dr. Robert Lueken.
Visitation will begin at 4:00 PM on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at St. Joseph Heights. The wake service will be held at 5:00 PM, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 PM in the convent chapel. Interment in the convent cemetery will follow the 8:30 AM Mass on Friday, November 10, 2023.
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