Sister Kay Watts, 91, died June 2, 2025, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.
Sister Kay was born on May 2, 1934, in Hopkins, Minn. She was the middle child of five children born to the late Earl and Emily (Peaslee) Watts. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on July 31, 1956. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1958, and final vows on August 12, 1961. She was a Franciscan Sister for 68 years.
Kay’s dad worked for Minneapolis Moline until he eventually started his own furnace business. She grew up in a neighborhood that included only two other girls. Their home was only a block from Lake Minnetonka and the family enjoyed fishing, boating and swimming in that beautiful lake. Her mother was a good fisherwoman, always catching more fish than all the rest. (She also caught a carp and a very big turtle!) The family loved the outdoors, enjoying skiing and hockey during the wintertime and baseball and football games. No wonder Sister Kay loved watching the Twins and Vikings!
Her education began in Eden Prairie until second grade when her family moved to Gray’s Bay near Wayzata where she attended Groveland Grade School through the eighth grade. Her secondary education was at Deephaven High School. During those years she sang in the choir and enjoyed playing the saxophone in concert and pep bands. After graduation she worked for three years at Northwestern National Insurance Company.
Sister Kay’s acquaintance with the Franciscan Sisters happened through a Franciscan priest who came to her parish to help out when their pastor was on vacation. Her mother told him that Kay was interested in becoming a sister. He also told her about St. Francis High School, which Kay said, “never did interest me.”
Sister Kay wrote, “however the idea of becoming a sister never really left me. Finally, I made a weekend visit to St. Francis Convent. Before leaving that weekend, Sister Mary Eve asked me if I wanted to join. I didn’t want to say ‘no,’ so I said ‘yes!’ I made arrangements to enter on August 22, 1955, and on July 31, 1956, I was accepted into the novitiate and given the religious name Sister Mary Eunice.” Later she returned to her baptismal name.
Sister Kay’s education included a year at the College of St. Catherine and many courses in Food Service. She held a certificate from the American Dietetic Association. Most of her religious life she served others through the domestic art of food service.
In her quiet and gentle manner, Sister Kay cooked many a meal, baked many a loaf of bread and made many batches of cookies. She hired, trained and oversaw many of the workers who labored with her in food service. Always in a spirit of hospitality, she prepared food that gave pleasure to the plate and delight to the eye of those who enjoyed it.
Sister Kay often spoke that “of all my varied ministries, there are three that were very special to me. My years at the St. Cloud Children’s Home were so enriching, as I met some very needy children who wanted to change their lives. It was a joy to see them leaving as mature and confident young adults. My 14 years as manager of the kitchen at the Franciscan Retreat House in Prior Lake left me with many great memories of the good times we had with the friars and the preaching staff. My volunteer years at the Catholic Charities Food Shelf were very rewarding, as I was able to help clients who needed clothing and household items.”
At the time of her 60th Jubilee, she said, “These 60 years of religious life have flown by so fast. This has been a very good life for me in getting to know our sisters, time for prayer and the special gatherings of all of us together. I look back in gratitude for all that has been and look forward with peaceful hope for all that will be. ‘Thank you, God, for all you have done in my life.’”
Sister Kay was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Edward, Earl, Robert and Lawrence. She is survived by nieces and nephews, extended family and her Franciscan Community.
A prayer service was held for Sister Kay on June 6, 2025. A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on June 7, 2025, at St. Francis Convent.
Click to view Sister Kay's Memorial Video
