Father Paul Huber, who served St. Francis Xavier Church in downtown Cincinnati for 53 years, died Jan. 31 at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich. Father Huber retired in 2005 at the age of 93.

COURTESY PHOTO

Father Paul Huber, SJ

During his studies to become a priest, Father Huber earned a bachelor’s degree in 1936 and a master’s degree in English in 1939, both at West Baden College, Ind. Prior to his ordination, he taught at St. Xavier High School from 1939 to 1942. He was ordained in 1945.

Father Hubert was assigned to St. Xavier Church in Cincinnati as associate pastor in 1951. At St. Xavier he celebrated Mass every day, as well as once a month at the Hamilton County Justice Center.

Father Joe Schell, SJ, became friends with Father Huber when they joined the Jesuits in 1931, training side-by-side for the first seven years of their priestly formation. After many years in separate ministries, the two reunited at Colombiere Center in 2005 for their final mission, to pray for the church and the Society of Jesus.

"Paul didn’t like to be fussed over," said Father Schell. "Recently, we were at a special event, and I tried to brush something off his mouth. He pushed my hand away and said, ‘I’m not that far gone!’ I’m sure he’s in heaven now, brushing away the angels while they try to adjust his halo. If it were my choice I would canonize him. He was a saint."

The Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Francis Xavier Church on Feb. 5. Memorial gifts may be made to The Father Paul Huber, SJ, Fund for Outreach Programs, St. Francis Xavier Church, 607 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-2512.

Sister Jean Therese Durbin

Sister of Charity Jean Therese Durbin died Feb. 3, at Mother Margaret Hall in Cincinnati at the age of 84.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 5 in the Immaculate Conception Chapel at the Sisters of Charity motherhouse. Burial followed in the order’s cemetery.
The Kentucky native was born Lucille Durbin and joined the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati in 1943. She earned the bachelor of science in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1958.

Sister Jean Therese served the dioceses of Cincinnati; Denver and Pueblo in Colorado, Santa Fe, Columbus, Toledo, Savannah and Nashville in education and pastoral ministry.

She began her teaching career in 1944 at St. Bernadette School in Amelia. She later taught at St. Jude School, Cincinnati; St. Elizabeth School, Norwood, and at the Gressle School in Norwood.

A love for rural life, combined with a deep desire to help bring the Catholic faith to unchurched areas, led her to serve in pastoral ministry.

Sister Jean Therese volunteered as a tutor at Bishop Leibold School in Dayton, before joining the ministry of prayer at the order’s motherhouse in 1993.

She is survived by her sister, Sister of Charity Jean Evelyn Durbin.

Sister Marie Devota Thesken

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 29 for Sister of Charity Marie Devota Thesken, 91, at the motherhouse chapel in Mount St. Joseph. She died Jan. 26 at Mother Margaret Hall. A native of Cincinnati, she joined the Sisters of Charity in 1937.

She earned a bachelor of arts in chemistry from the College of Mount St. Joseph and a master of science in chemistry from Xavier University.

An educator for 53 years, she began teaching at St. Rose High School in Lima. From 1941-73, she taught science and mathematics at Holy Angels School in Sidney, Catholic Central High School in Springfield and Bishop Flaget School in Chillicothe. For the next 16 years, she taught and tutored young mothers at St. Joseph Infant and Maternity Home in Cincinnati. She also taught in Colorado. She retired in 1993 and served as assistant sacristan at Mother Margaret Hall nursing facility at Mount St. Joseph.

She is survived by her sister, Alma Osterman; and her brother, Raymond.

Interment was in the motherhouse cemetery.

Sister Julie Jarvis

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Julie Jarvis at the Mount Notre Dame Convent chapel in Cincinnati. She died Jan. 28 at Mt. Notre Dame Health Center at the age of 93. A native of Washington, D.C., she was a Sister for 68 years.

As a lifelong educator, her first ministry was as a classroom teacher at Notre Dame High School in Chicago. She then began a 53-year ministry in Ohio schools at Notre Dame in Hamilton and Mt. Notre Dame in Reading. She also served as principal and teacher at a school in Chicago. She taught courses in biology, chemistry, general science, cell biology, health and homemaking. After her retirement, she spent several years as an instructor for safe-driving courses in Cincinnati.

She earned an undergraduate degree from Trinity College in Washington, She received a master’s in education from Xavier University and a master’s of science from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

She is survived by her brothers, Norman and Charles of Maryland and Lawrence of California; and two sisters, Margaret Bowen and Sheila Rice of Maryland.

Interment was in the convent cemetery.