Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister M. John Baptist Howarth CSC

Feb. 16, 1914 – Nov. 27, 1981

South Bend Tribune 11/28/1981

Services for Sister M. John Baptist CSC, 67, who died Friday after a lengthy illness, will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in Our Lady of Loretto Church and burial will be in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery on the campus. Friends may call until time os services in the convent parlor where a wake service will be at 7 p.m. today.

She was born Gertrude Margaret Kowarth on Feb. 16, 1914 in Woodland, Calif. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Mary’s coming from Nevada City, Calif. She was received as a novice Jan. 6, 1933 and then as a professional two years later. From 1935 to 1957, she taught in elementary schools in California. She then served as a purchasing agent and in housekeeping departments of various health service institutions conducted by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. She came to St. Mary’s in 1975 to serve as purchasing agent and to work for campus management services. She became a patient of the convent infirmary early in 1981.