Sister Mary Louise “Mary Lou” Hernandez, OSB, 97, a Benedictine Sister of Boerne, passed away peacefully at St. Scholastica Monastery in Boerne, Texas, on Aug. 15, 2024.

Sister was born May 1, 1927, in San Antonio to Juan Manuel Flores and Maria de los Angeles Rivas Garcia de Flores. She had an older sister, Aurora, and younger brother, Manuel.

Her paternal grandparents had 17 children. This large, extended family was like its own community, which helped Sister Mary Lou easily relate to community life with the Sisters.

Sister started her career in bookkeeping at the age of 9 when she kept a simple set of books at her aunt’s grocery store. After graduating from high school, she married and lived in San Diego.

She and her son, Richard, returned to San Antonio in the early 1950s. Richard attended Sacred Heart School and was taught by the Benedictine Sisters. This was where Sister Mary Lou got to know the Sisters.

Sister Mary Lou studied finance and accounting at the University of Texas-San Antonio. She worked for many years in San Antonio at Bexar Meat Company and then Apache Meat Company before entering the Benedictine community in 1975.

Sister served in many ministries during her religious life including bookkeeping, maintaining the archives, and revenue sharing. She also served as a member of the Housing Authority for Boerne for nearly 30 years and was commissioner from 2007-2009.

Sister Mary Lou loved children and cared for many. She especially enjoyed her time with the children who resided at the former Children’s Inn, located on the grounds of the Benedictine Sisters.

Sister Mary Lou will be remembered for her joy and compassion, her wonderful sense of humor, her love for life, and for being helpful to all.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents, Juan Manuel Flores and Maria de los Angeles Rivas Garcia de Flores; her sister, Aurora Johnson; and her brother, Manuel G. Flores.

She is survived by her community of Benedictine Sisters; one son, Richard Hernandez, two granddaughters, Barbara Noreen (Marshall) Owens and Ellen Marie Miller; three great-grandchildren, Marissa, Justen and Aiden; one nephew, Walter (Sally) Johnson; and extended family members.

At Sister Mary Lou’s long-standing request, her body was donated to the UTSA Health Science Center for the advancement of science and research.

The Benedictine Sisters, Richard, and family wish to thank the Eldercare staff at St. Scholastica Monastery and Alamo Hospice for the loving and compassionate care given to Sister Mary Lou.

Services will be held on Aug. 25, at Omega Retreat Center’s Christ the King Chapel, 316 W. Highland Drive in Boerne — a 2 p.m. Rosary and 3 p.m. memorial Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Benedictine Sisters, 216 W. Highland Drive, Boerne, Texas 78006, or made online at www.boernebenedictines. org.