Mary Emma Kuhn was born on September 26, 1932, during the Great Depression in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father was a steel mill worker. Along with her parents, Mary lived with her grandmother, Mary Agnes Nelligan and her older sister Doris. When Mary was eleven and Doris was seventeen their mother died of pneumonia. There was penicillin at the time, but its use was reserved for military in 1943. Mary remained in the care of her grandmother while Doris graduated from high school. Shortly after graduating Doris decided to move to Loveland, Ohio, to join the Grail, an international Catholic women's organization. Before Mary finished high school, she suffered another tragic loss when her grandmother died. She was invited to live with the Alexander's, neighbors and family friends. In 1950 Mary graduated from high school at the top of her class and was offered a substantial scholarship to Duquesne University. Mary declined the scholarship and decided to follow Doris and join the Grail. She moved to Loveland in 1950 and attended the Grail "year school", a time of spiritual study and manual labor on the Grailville farm in preparation for service. In 1953 Mary was invited to attend college in Basutoland (Lesotho, South Africa) at the Pius XII College where she helped integrate the student body. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1957. Over the years Mary taught in a variety of settings and different types of schools in Uganda and South Africa. She even did some substitute teaching in Ohio while home on leave. In Uganda she taught in Calisizio. Her career took her to Durban, Port Elizabeth, and Johannesburg. In 1971 she was accepted to the University of Edinburgh for postgraduate work. She earned a diploma in African Studies. Most of the years Mary spent in Johannesburg were dedicated to distance learning. She provided and helped develop curriculum for secondary and tertiary education for African who because of apartheid restrictions could not pursue higher education. As a senior evaluator Mary was a pioneer in what we would now call virtual education. After Nelson Mandela was released from prison and South Africa held its first free elections, Mary Emma was there. After years of "the struggle" Mary had the privilege of acting as an international election monitor. Mary lived in community with her South African teammates. She was especially close to Loek Goemans, Emilia Charbonneau, and Pam Farrow. Mary said she had 2 families- the Grail and the Falgners. Mary was dedicated to her ministry in South Africa and the struggle to end apartheid. Her visits home to Ohio were infrequent. When she did come home her 10 nieces and nephews relished the time with her. She opened our eyes to the wider world and international politics. She would lovingly correct our grammar and helped us learn our multiplication tables. She taught us to bake whole wheat bread and drink proper tea. Her sister was able to visit Mary in South Africa twice and her niece Susan visited in 1987. In 2011 when Mary returned to the United States, she began to have some memory problems. She moved into an apartment at Little Sisters of the Poor in Cincinnati. Once Mary settled into her new life she was kindly welcomed and cared for by the Grail members in the nearby neighborhoods and would enjoy lunch and holidays with them. Mary was lovingly cared for by the sisters and felt comfortable in the religious community setting. As Mary's memory declined, she required more assistance. Grail member Martha Heidkamp stepped up and provided much needed help sorting Mary's international, legal and financial matters. At the time of her death Mary was attended by her niece Susan and the Little Sisters. She died peacefully at 5:47 PM November 27, 2021. We thank God for Mary and her life of service. She led a full, adventurous life. Due to Covid restrictions a service will be held at a later date yet to be determined. Mary's ashes will be buried at the Grailville cemetery at that time. Memorials may be made to the Little Sister of the Poor, 376 Riddle Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45220.