Sr. Edna Ternes, CSJ, entered eternal life on Sept. 27. She was 98 and had been a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 77 years. A Mass of Christian Burial was held for her Oct. 1 at Holy Family Chapel in Nazareth, Mich.

Edna Ternes was born in Detroit on April 8, 1915, the daughter of George and Hannah Mae (Connelly) Ternes. She was a member of St. Agnes Parish in Detroit at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth on July 2, 1936. She received her baptismal name, Sr. Edna, at her reception Jan. 8, 1937. She pronounced first vows Jan. 9, 1939, and final vows on Jan. 9, 1942.

Sr. Ternes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Nazareth College and a Master of Arts degree in social work from St. Louis University in Missouri. After teaching in high school for a few years, she entered the health care field specifically in social service work. Sister spent 10 years at St. Joseph Hospital in Flint and then transferred to Borgess Hospital, St. Agnes Foundling Home in Kalamazoo where she ministered to women with troubled pregnancies, placed children in foster homes and adoptive homes. In 1970 she became administrator of Catholic Family Services in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. After 14 years she moved on to Dowagiac Nursing Home where she did social work and pastoral care ministry. Sr. Ternes returned to Kalamazoo in 1994 and retired from a busy life of ministry.