Sr. Adamarie Kost

Sister Adamarie was the daughter of Charles Franklin and Ada Vester Kost. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 27, 1937. She graduated from Cathedral High School and entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1956. She received her BS degree from Our Lady of Cincinnati College and her MEd from Memphis State University.

Sister is survived by her Sisters of Mercy, numerous and beloved nieces and nephews, and her devoted friend, Kay Brogle.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents and her eight siblings: Francis (Joe) Biggs, Catherine (Buddy) Gentry, Doris (Masne Allen) Bennett, Florence (Bill) Midget, Lois (Marvin) Fox, Jody Kost, Mary Helen (Donald) Meadows, Vivian (Joe) Tucker and by her nephew John Vincent Gentry, niece Dawn Tucker and great nephews Kane Gentry and Steven Yates.

Sister Adamarie was a Sister of Mercy for 68 years. She served in numerous ministries, including elementary school teacher in Nashville and Memphis, and hospital chaplaincy and social work in Cincinnati.

In 1982 she returned to Tennessee and became Administrator of Catholic Charities of Chattanooga. In 1990 she was appointed Coordinator/Administrator of the Sisters of Mercy at St. Bernard Convent and later at Mercy Convent, Pennington Bend.

In 1995 Sister became the Founding Executive Director of the Lester Tune Home Place in Chattanooga, a housing ministry for people living with HIV/AIDS. In Sister’s own words, “The work at The Home Place was THE ministry where I most felt I was following the call of Catherine McAuley (foundress of the Sisters of Mercy), caring for the most vulnerable and abandoned by society in that time period.”

Among Sister’s activities beyond ministry, was being named Queen of the Kudzu Ball in Chattanooga in 1987. Sister Adamarie also entertained many gatherings across the states impersonating Minnie Pearl. After hearing Sister’s taped performance, Minnie said, “Sister was the best impersonator I ever heard.”

When Sister Adamarie retired, she moved to Mercy Convent, Pennington Bend, in Nashville. During her years at Mercy, she participated in many activities and ministered to the sisters in the infirmary. She enjoyed calling bingo for them. She prayed daily for the spiritual and temporal needs of the employees who loved and cared for her.

Visitation for Sister Adamarie was on March 14, 2024 followed by the Liturgy at Mercy Convent. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery.