Obituary of Mary Kuhlman, Founder of Sisters in Shelter

She was born December 28, 1946, in New Cleveland, Ohio, to Norbert and Dorothy (Lammers) Kuhlman in New Cleveland, Ohio.

Survivors include a sister, Wilma (Norm) Inkrott and a brother, Martin (Grace) Kuhlman

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters: Teresa Ann Rieman, Nancy Schimmoeller, and Ruth Nartker, and a brother, Carl Kuhlman

Sister Mary taught at Edgerton St. Mary, New Washington St. Bernard, Bismark St. Sebastian, Miller City, and Bryan St. Patrick.  She then served in parish ministry at Plymouth St. Joseph, where after a few years, she was appointed as Pastoral Leader.  She received her M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Loyola, Chicago. She served as Pastoral Associate at Upper Sandusky St. Peter and Kirby St. Mary.  She then became a Pastoral Associate at St. Thomas More Parish in Bowling Green, where, after a year, she was appointed Pastoral Leader.  She served in this capacity until she was elected to congregational leadership in 2006.  With only a four-year reprieve, she served in leadership until 2022.

Among other things, Sister Mary had a wonderful sense of humor and a playful spirit.  She also had a heart attuned to those who are suffering and oppressed.  She said her vision of ministry changed after visits to Haiti, Columbia, Israel and Palestine, China and Thailand.  While she was in congregational leadership, she volunteered time working with displaced women and victims of human trafficking.  During her reprieve from congregational leadership, she, with others, founded Sisters in Shelter, a home for women who had been trafficked.  She saw “the thread of love that binds the world together.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Sisters in Shelter or to Cancer Assistance for Putnam County (CAP).

To send online condolences to the family, go to: https://www.traunerofuneralhome.com/obituary/SisterMary-Kuhlman and click on Tribute Wall.