Sr. Mary Ann Nestel, CSJ

Sister Mary Ann Nestel entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1958, and was received into the novitiate in 1959. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College in 1963 and a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri, Kansas City in 1973. Sister Mary Ann began teaching primary grades in 1963 and served in education until 1979.

At the Arthritis Foundation, she served for four years as the director of field operations. Sister Mary Ann served one year at Missouri Project Energy Care as the director of development and public relations. From 1985 to 1988, she was the administrative assistant at Ecumenical House Production Corporation (now known as Beyond Housing). She was the executive director of development for the Sisters of St. Joseph from 1989 to 2006, and she was the executive director of the Carondelet Community Betterment Federation from 2007 to 2014.

Sister currently serves on several boards and committees. She is Board Chair of St. Joseph Housing Initiative, dedicated to quality housing for low and moderate income families in St. Louis. She is a founding board member of Carondelet Leadership Academy. She serves on the Board of Regents at Fontbonne University and St. Joseph’s Academy’s Capital Campaign Committee, ensuring quality education for women. A Founding board member of Books for Newborns and serving on the development committee of HealthWorks, she is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children living in poverty. She also serves on the board of City of St. Louis Senior Fund, which focuses on fall prevention, homemaker chore services, social isolation and economic security for seniors in the city.

Sister Mary Ann is passionate about social justice issues and concerns. She loves to travel and hosting dinner parties is her joy. Hard work, bright colors and a happy laugh are her hallmark.