Remembering a Friend
Remembering a friend and board member
Sr. Mary Tobias Hagan, member of the Missouri School of Religion Board of Trustees and Strategic Focus Committee passed away on April 24, 2009. Tobias’s wisdom and guidance helped MSR through a difficult transition period. She also taught an annual Spiritual Formation Retreat each December at Rickman Center. She will be greatly missed by Missouri School of Religion.
Obituary from the St. Louis Review (a publication of the Archdiocese of St. Louis)
Sister Mary Tobias Hagan 73; music teacher, administrator
A memorial Mass was celebrated May 4 for Sister Mary Tobias Hagan, a longtime music educator and member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet for 55 years. The Mass took place at the sisters’ motherhouse in South St. Louis.
Sister Mary Tobias died from stomach cancer April 24 at Nazareth Living Center in South County. She was 73.
Born Nancy Hagan in Independence, Mo., in 1936, Sister Mary Tobias entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1953. She made her final profession in 1961.
Sister Mary Tobias earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Fontbonne College in 1964 and a master’s degree in music, choral conducting, from Washington University in 1967. In 1971, she received a doctorate in music education from Washington University. In 1993, she earned a master’s degree in counseling from Webster College.
Her ministry as a Sister of St. Joseph began in 1956, when she was assigned to teach at St. Cecilia Grade School in Peoria, Ill. In 1957, she returned to St. Louis, where she was assigned to teach at Holy Rosary School.
In 1963, she was named a music education consultant and supervisor for several schools in St. Louis. The following year, she went to Fontbonne College, where she taught and served as chairperson of the music department.
Starting in 1971, she had served as administrator of Rockhaven, a retreat and recreation center for the community in House Springs, Mo. In 1973, she was named a music education consultant and music supervisor for the archdiocesan Catholic Education Office.
In 1975, Sister Mary Tobias was named provincial councilor and regional superior for the St. Joseph Provincialate in St. Louis. She served in those positions until 1982, when she was named general councilor for the Congregational Center in St. Louis.
In 2003, Sister Mary Tobias was named spiritual director and consultant for the Sisters of St. Joseph Community Ministry. She served in that position until earlier this year, when she moved to Nazareth.
Sister Mary Tobias is survived by a sister, Jean Scholz of Eugene, Ore.; and one brother, Jesuit Father Bob Hagan of St. Louis.
She donated her body to St. Louis University Medical School.