Sister Maurice Kleman, 94, of the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio, died at 1:35 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2015, at St. Francis Home. She was born March 6, 1921, in Toledo, OH to George J. and Margaret (Romaker) Kleman.
She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Maurice G. Kleman; three sisters, Thelma V. Brown, Sister M. Gerardis Kleman, SND, and Rita P. Wilhelm.
Sr. Maurice was from the Sacred Heart Parish, Toledo. In the Toledo Diocese she taught elementary grades in North Auburn and Edgerton, Ohio. At the secondary level she taught at St. Francis Convent High School in Tiffin, St. Mary High School in Sandusky, and Central Catholic High School in Toledo. In Tiffin, she also served as Executive Secretary of St. Francis High School. From 1958 through 1966, she served as Novice Mistress at the Motherhouse in Tiffin. Sister Maurice’s ministry extended to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, where she served as assistant director of Maggie Valley Catholic Center, as well as teacher and bookkeeper. After returning to Ohio, she held several different positions at St. Anthony Villa including office assistant, secretary, and executive secretary to the administrator. She continued her service as receptionist/secretary and medical records assistant with Connecting Point. Sister Maurice served as a volunteer at St. Pius School in Toledo, Ohio. At the time of her death Sister Maurice was a resident of St. Francis Home in Tiffin and a Minister of Prayer and Presence for the congregation.
Sister Maurice had many notable accomplishments, one of which was serving as a data collector for a Federal grant program through the University of Toledo. The purpose was to develop and document a program for training teachers of handicapped students. In 2001, she was recognized for twenty years of service to St. Anthony Villa with the naming of the Female Chemical Dependency Unit in her honor: “Kleman Hall.” She was best known for her love of reading good literature and writing. Sister Maurice loved studying English grammar, its beauty, logic, and simplicity. Sister Maurice received her Master of Arts in English and Master of Arts in Theology degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.
Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 27, 2015, at St. Francis Home Chapel, 182 St. Francis Ave. Tiffin, Ohio 44883; also from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the St. Francis Convent Chapel, 200 St. Francis Ave. Tiffin and the Christian Wake service will be at 7:00 p.m. Monday in the Convent Chapel.
The Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, 2015, in the Convent Chapel officiated by her nephew, Rev. Jim Brown. Burial will take place immediately following the Mass in the Convent Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Francis Convent or St. Francis Home.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Traunero Funeral Home, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, OH 44883. (419) 447-3113.