Mary Catherine Akerman was born on Good Friday, April 6, 1917, in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, the youngest of the thirteen children of John Nicholas and Cora E. (Waldrop) Akerman, 10 boys and 3 girls. Two brothers and one sister, Julia, died before she was born. She was named Mary Catherine after the Mother Superior at the convent of the Sisters of Mercy where her sister, Florence, had attended school. Florence, who was 19 years older than Mary Catherine, became Sr. M. Augustine, a Benedictine in Oklahoma.

At age six Mary Catherine was taught the catechism by her mother and presented to the parish priest who said she was too young for her First Communion. Because her mother had persisted, two weeks after her seventh birthday the pastor relented. Mary Catherine went to daily Mass and Communion with her mother who received Tabernacle and Purgatory and prayed that her youngest child would enter at Clyde. She entered on June 24, 1932, at age 15, having completed one year of high school. After she had entered her mother told her that she had prayed for this, but "I wanted Our Lord to do it all." Mrs. Akerman, who was ill and near death when Mary Catherine was eight years old, had prayed to live long enough to see her youngest child settled in life (as she put it). After Sr. M. Agnes made profession, her mother died. Her first profession of vows was on May 26, 1935 and perpetual vows on August 24, 1940.

Sr. M. Agnes lived six years in our Tucson monastery, seven in Mundelein, four in Kansas City, and the rest of her monastic life at Clyde. She worked in the Altar Bread, Church vestment and Correspondence Departments. Since 1968 she was involved full time with what she called her "beloved artwork" which she obviously cherished. Many years ago, when Fr. Norbert came over to Clyde to offer lessons in calligraphy to any of the Sisters who were interested, Sr. M. Agnes was the only one among those first enthusiastic students who persevered both in learning and in the practice of this art. She always declared how much she loved the silence and solitude she found with artwork.

In February 1994 illness required her to move from Clyde into St. Benedict Health Care Community at our St. Louis monastery. This meant leaving her favorite monastery and her favorite occupation, and she admitted that the transition was not easy. However, with a zest for life and self-care, Sr. M. Agnes herself made a decision to learn how to administer the home dialysis at the monastery, and was pleasant and cheerful in accepting her physical limitations in this regard. She came to appreciate the advantage of being in St. Benedict Health Care community, and was grateful for the care she received. Sr. M. Agnes had a pleasant disposition, and as some remarked, even if she had a disagreement with anyone, she did not hold a grudge or refuse reconciliation. It was also obvious through the years that she felt very close to her family and had a great love for them, which is not surprising for the youngest of thirteen children. This love for her family was evident by her repeated request that when being paged by the portress or anyone she always wanted to be called Sr. M. Agnes Akerman.

On February 7, 1995 Sr. M. Agnes suffered a massive stroke during the night. and was taken to Deaconess Hospital by ambulance. On March 16th Fr. Andrew anointed her after Mass. On March 19th Sr. Zita and Sr. Gladys stayed with her during Mass, and afterwards Fr. Patrick Caveglia, osb, from Conception Abbey, who had presided at the Eucharist, and several sisters were praying at her bedside as she drew her last breath. Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in the St. Louis monastery chapel March 22nd with burial in Mt. Calvary cemetery at Clyde the following day. Five of the Franciscan Srs. of Mary in St. Louis, including her close friend, Sr. M. Benigna Semtner, who formerly lived at the Mt. Alverno convent in Maryville, came for the Wake service.

At the time of her death, Sr. M. Agnes was survived by one brother, Charley, and many nieces and nephews. Charley and some of his children were able to attend the funeral liturgies, both in St. Louis and at Clyde.