Sister Mary Grace Thul, OP, 88, of Girard, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the Dominican Monastery of Mary the Queen in Girard. She was born on May 24, 1935 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Nathan W. and Marcella Bender Thul and they preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Robert C. Thul, SJ and Andrew B. Thul.
She is survived by her Hurtlein family, including her sister, Marilyn (Charles F., deceased) Hertlein of Cincinnati, Ohio; nephews, Charles (Kathy), Richard (Denice), Thomas (Laura), David (Therese), and Robert (Mary Jo) Hurtlein; eleven grand and eleven great-grand nieces and nephews.
She is also survived by her Thul family including nieces and nephews, Laura (Jeff) Penza, Donna (Ned) Wenstrup, Andy (Barb) Thul, Barb (Robert) Icemann, Mary Thul Garrison, Katie (Ed) Kesse, and Robert Thul; fifteen grand and five great-grand nieces and nephews.
Sister Mary Grace grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from Saint Ursula Academy and the College of Applied Arts at the University of Cincinnati. She taught in the Cincinnati Public Schools and established a custom art business before deciding to enter the Monastery of the Holy Name in Cincinnati.
She made her profession of vows on June 14, 1964. The fine arts have always been greatly esteemed and utilized by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) as an expression of its mission to praise, to bless and to preach. Sister Mary Grace blended the contemplative and artistic into one, in living out her monastic vocation. She transferred to the Monastery of Mary the Queen in 2017.
Sister Mary Grace commissioned for many liturgical events and places of worship. In 1999, a collection of Sister’s “Marian” prints were received into the Vatican Library in a special ceremony by Pope John Paul II. Sister Mary Grace exhibited widely and created many sculptures, paintings, and woodcuts, that were commissioned by churches around the country for liturgical use and purchased by collectors for their homes. Many of her artworks are on permanent display at the Mater Ecclesia Institute in Cincinnati.
Visitation: 12:00 – 12:50 pm, Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Monastery of Mary the Queen, 15635 Greenridge Road, Girard, IL.
Funeral Mass: 1:00 pm, Friday, April 5, 2024 at the Monastery of Mary the Queen with Rev. Edward M. Ruane officiating. A burial will follow at St. Martin Cemetery in Farmersville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dominican Monastery of Mary the Queen: opnunsil.org
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