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 She leaves thousands of unpublished works behind, known only to God, Anne, and her family.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.