Sr. Danielle Garst, CSJ

Barbara Josephine Garst was born July 11, 1942, in Fortville, Indiana to Patricia Langsford Garst and George Garst. She attended St. Joseph Academy in Tipton, Indiana and entered the Congregation of St. Joseph in Tipton on September 7, 1960. Receiving the religious habit in 1961, she was given the name Sister Mary Danielle. She made her final vows on August 15, 1966.

Having earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University in Kokomo, Indiana, Sister Danielle influenced the lives of her students for thirty years. Sister Danielle offered learning marked by a spirit of loving concern and a sense of community in Catholic Schools throughout Indiana including St. Joan of Arc, Kokomo; St. Joseph, Delphi; St. Joseph, Kentland; St. Aloysius, Yoder; St. John the Baptist, Tipton; St. John the Evangelist, Hartford City and St. Ambrose in Seymour.

Following her teaching ministry, Sister Danielle enrolled in a Gerontology Certification Program at Saint Mary-of-the Woods College. She worked for the Sisters of Providence as a nurse aide in the skilled unit of Karcher Hall, and as a receptionist at Providence Center. Sister Danielle was recognized for her hospitality, and in 2001 she received an Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s Hospitality Award. In 2007 Sister Danielle returned to St. Joseph Center in Tipton, where she joined the Center’s Coordinating Team to attend to the needs of Sisters, lay residents and guests.

With the diminishment of the Sisters at Tipton Center, Sister Danielle discerned to move to the Nazareth Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2012. There she ministered to help the Community with driving, hospitality and in Liturgy Ministries.

Sister Danielle felt passionate about her ministry of teaching. Her philosophy in the classroom was to each “FUN”-damentals with experiences plus a little “FUN” along the way. Her students made butter, baked pumpkin pies using the metric system, examined the inside of a coconut and made Lenten pretzels in the convent kitchen. Taking pleasure in these activities with students carried on later when Sister Danielle joined the Social Committee at Nazareth where sisters enjoyed a variety of activities. She loved being receptionist at Providence Center at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN to provide an atmosphere of welcoming hospitality to visitors. Of this ministry she said: “Offering hospitality to the dear neighbor is a charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph. My task boils down to loving others. I want to be that welcoming presence to all I meet.”

May She Rest In Peace!