Anne Katharine Kaler, Ph.D. died peacefully in her sleep, on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025 at the age of 89.
Born to Paul and Mary Gertrude Doyle Kaler on November 19, 1935, Anne was a proud, life-long resident of Lansdale, student at St. Stanislaus Parish Elementary, a graduate of Gwynedd Mercy Academy for Girls, the Catholic University of America, the University of Pennsylvania, and received her doctorate from Temple University in 1970. She was a life-long parishioner at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, where she served many years as a lector.
As a young woman, Anne taught at Little Flower-Lansdale Catholic High School, the Ravenhill Assumption Academy in Philadelphia and St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, Ind., where she met her Louden Family. Anne retired as Professor Emerita from Gwynedd Mercy University in 2004 after a forty-year teaching career in their English, Language, and Fine Arts Division. She was also the faculty advisor to The Seed, and the Editor for the Gwynedd Journal. Anne loved to read and write ~ from her childhood, through her last days as a resident of the Horsham Center for Jewish Life Nursing Home.
A published poet, novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, and author of eight books, Anne also served as an active conference participant and an Editor for several university academic publications: the Popular Culture Association, the American and Middle-Atlantic America Conference of Popular Culture, the Mid-Atlantic Almanack and the Andrew Greeley Conferences. A keen student and lover of the many saints, Anne also named and contributed articles to the St. Stanislaus News-Stan. Following her retirement, Anne became a founding member and Editor of the Pearl S. Buck International Writing Center, which published seventeen books under her guidance. She leaves thousands of unpublished works behind, known only to God, Anne, and her family.
However, Anne was happiest and most proud when speaking of her adopted Goddaughter, Clare Leanne Louden, whom she helped raise from infancy. Anne was pre-deceased by her parents and is survived by her “adopted” sisters, Cynthia L. Louden, ofs, with whom she lived; Cheryl (David) Louden Decker, Fort Wayne, In; Goddaughter, C. Leanne Louden, State College; numerous Louden family nieces and nephews; Robert Lincoln (Linda) Kaler III; Robert Kaler IV; Paul (Jaime) Kaler; Christine (Gary) Hill; Sydney (Jake) Haber and her many loving friends at Gwynedd Mercy University, the Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association, and the Horsham Center for Jewish Life. Condolences may be sent to www.simcoxmcilvainefuneralhome.com
Anne’s Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 51 Lansdale Ave., Lansdale, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Anne’s name to one of her favorites: Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association, 520 Dublin Rd, Perkasie PA 18944; Gwynedd Mercy University (scholarships for older students), 1325 Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437; or your favorite personal charity.
Anne, your light shone through your instructional talents, which taught and touched the hearts of those around you. Your creativity helped others to learn how to better express themselves and tell beautiful stories. I miss you. May your memory be eternal.
Edited by Anne
TWO ON THE RAILING
It was surprising to look over at the woman talking to me near the beach at Cape May New Jersey. She was a pleasing lady with wild blowing hair, and the very deepest eyes that seemed to own the seashore, matching the rolling waves and low skies over the surf.
At first, I didn’t want to pay attention to her, but her voice was more than a match for my indifference. The first words heard clearly were, “The autumn has its stillness that hushed calm.”
I said, “Sorry, what did you say?”
As if she didn’t hear me, she kept talking, nearly whispering. She was leaning on the same railing, so she needn’t talk loudly.
“It also brings its sounds; winds bringing sweeping intrusions, that rapping on our windows. We know time as a swift current, deceivingly slow when watched all day, but a rapid ghost no less. We are all fast travelers, our flights move against the cosmic grandeur, and tragedies of the universe.”
I was smoking and she looked at my cigarette with regret. I said, “Go on please, what were you saying?”
“Well, we are also what we were, and magnificent in it all. I was young like you dear… tall, stunning. What’s your name?”
“Anne.”
“That’s my name!”
“Oh, gheez, that’s remarkable. You enjoy the autumn… Anne? “
“Yes, I come here every year, Anne… to watch the migrants, the birds.”
“Always Cape May?”
“Yes dear, and you?
“The same, ‘Wings in Odyssey,’ the pamphlet says, ‘Visitors in magnetic navigation.’”
“Do you think about how their worlds are filled with waiting, calling out to the wind, voices from mysterious eternities?”
“I should.”
The grand woman, like a bird on a rail, rose up and waved goodbye. I never saw her again.
jmccabe ©
Member and published by PSB WC Press 2019 TRACKS THROUGH OUR LIVES edited by Anne Kaler PhD
Anne was one of my teachers at Gwynedd-Mercy. She encouraged me to write my memoir about overcoming a traumatic past. Now, many years later, I’ve finally secured a publisher. I wish she had been able to see this project come to fruition. Her encouragement is a large part of the reason I became a successful writer. Thanks, Anne.
Miss Anne, I will miss you and your lovely chats we had when i came in to see you in the afternoons at Horsham Center for Jewish Life. You were such a lively soul. Rest peacefull and I love you. Condolences to your family
Your friend Sonia Cooper.
I’m very sorry to learn of Anne’s death. She was such a great, warm and witty friend to U.S. Sisters — how blessed we were to know her and her special family, Cindy and Leanne. Her generosity was famous among us: her Dodge Charger is still running strong out in our community in New Mexico!
Rest in peace and rise in glory, Anne, now able once more to hear, to run easily, and to chitchat with Pearl Buck, Shakespeare and all your other favorites.