Sister Mary Kristin Battles
August 13, 1946 – August 15, 2026
Professed August 16, 1967
Sister Mary Kristin, born Jane Kristin Battles, was the daughter of William and Claire Battles. She lived her first five years on the East Coast. During this time her sister Susan and brother William also joined the family. The family moved to California for Mr. Battles’ work. She first knew the Sisters of Notre Dame for religious education classes, but in high school she got to know them very well. Kristin attended Notre Dame Academy Girls’ High School in Los Angeles. Kristin recognized their “joyful simplicity” and their selfless spirit as well as the works of the congregation.
Sister Mary Kristin earned her university degrees in education, teaching for 10 years and serving 15 years as an elementary school principal. Sister Mary Kristin was a certified Spiritual Director, Master Catechist, and Education Coordinator for the community. She was a life-long learner and encouraged personal and professional growth in all the sisters.
In 2001 Sister Mary Kristin became the provincial superior of the California Province. During these years she spent her energy in continuing to expand the Uganda Mission, separately incorporating the community owned schools, forming and training school boards, renovating Notre Dame Center and opening Notre Dame Learning Center Preschool.
Sister Mary Kristin was elected as the tenth Superior General of the congregation at the 2010 General Chapter. It was her privilege to work with sisters from the various units, visit the sisters and ministries around the world, and see the wonderful work the sisters were doing to incarnate the love of our good and provident God. Highlights of her two terms in office included inspiring letters and conferences, the establishment of the Congregational and Generalate Funds, organizing international experiences, and making difficult decisions about buildings, ministries and structures.
In her autobiography, Sister Mary Kristin wrote: “I am most grateful to God for giving me a vocation to Notre Dame and to have walked with me through life with its twists and turns. Our Lady has been my inspiration and my sisters in religious life have been my support. My brother and sister have always been there for me, and I am blessed with the love of my niece and nephew and their families. God has been very good to me, and I hope that my life has been a witness to his goodness and provident care.”
She passed away peacefully at Notre Dame Center in the early hours of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 24 10:00am PDT at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Newbury Park, CA.
View the livestream here. It will also be archived.
Convert the mass time to your local time zone at this link.
Internment will be on September 25 at 10:00am at Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley, CA.
The internment will not be live-streamed.
For planning purposes, those who plan to attend the funeral are asked to RSVP at this link.
For more information, please contact Sister Lisa Megaffin at [email protected] or 805-917-3714.
Memorial donations will be appreciated to the Sisters of Notre Dame, 1776 Hendrix Ave. Thousand Oaks CA 91360 or at www.sndusa.org/donateca.
