She was the ninth of 10 children in her family, all born on the family farm. From 1997 to 2007, she continued providing support services to elderly in Guttenberg through volunteer work at River Living Center and St. Marys Parish. She later returned to her baptismal name. She served as principal in both Carroll (St. Lawrence School) and Calmar. From 1981 to 1984 she worked as a baker in West Glacier, Montana, then three years at a university in Lockport, Illinois. She lived simply, joyfully and with great love and care for everyone. She was received into the novitiate on August 12, 1946 and was given the name Sister Mary Peter. Her father thought nothing could be more perfect; he had an aunt, a sister and a niece in the convent, and now hed have a daughter there also. Community members, family and friends remember Sister Geralyn as a kind, quiet person who always loved children, music and the parishioners at St. Joseph. Sister Ellen Mary MacDonell, who served 64 years in the health care field with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, died Dec. 27, 2022, at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany. Her nieces and nephews were a delight to her. During her senior year, Sister Clara Mae and a friend visited St. Rose Convent, the motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. When funding ended, she was invited to join the staff at the Salvation Army in Spokane as Family Welfare Director. Home | Franciscan Sisters of Allegany From 1983 to 1988 she was manager of the school lunch program at Holy Child Jesus School, Canton, Mississippi. Again she received a negative response, but a week later her father gave his approval. She thrived on helping people and especially loved her adoration hours. Sister Sandra was born to Carroll and June (Nicholson) DeMann on October 12, 1947 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the eldest of four children. Joanne received her early education at St. Joseph Grade School in Spokane and graduated from eighth grade at St. Aloysius Grade School. She was especially taken by his focus on care for creation; just last year she noted that she had reread and meditated on Franciss encyclical Laudato Si, several times. After attending the Creation Spirituality Program in Oakland, California, Sister Donna served on the retreat staff at Holy Cross Center in Merrill, Wisconsin. Ellen Mary MacDonell was born Feb. 7, 1932, in Judique North, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Archibald and Mary Fitzgerald MacDonell. She was in the 76th year of her religious profession. She was in the68thyear of her religious profession. Her favorite subject was American history. Upon her retirement, the executive director of David School, Danny Greene, summed up her impact, Sister Mary Myron has truly been a gift from God. Helen again pushed the idea of a vocation out of her mind until December 1944 when she was assigned to the Sisters ward at the hospital. By her junior year, she had decided to enter religious life. About St. Paul Elder Services - St. Paul Elder Services, Inc. She often said that religious life was an extension of a gift that was nurtured in her home. Born on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1928, in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Sister Pat was the daughter of Frank and Willa (Cherrier) Keating. In Iowa she taught at St. Lawrence School and Kuemper High School, Carroll, as well as in Breda, West Point and Spencer. Oftentimes, she would spend days in the home of someone dying of HIV/AIDS or care for them in her home if they couldnt afford another place or another place was not available. She was in the seventy-first year of her religious profession. She moved to Rochester, Minnesota and began taking classes as a human service technician at Rochester Area Technical Institute. Until 2010, Sister Rita Marie had neither taken a pill, no been hospitalized. Friends, family and community members fondly remember Sister Sandra as a warm, gentle, caring person with a heart for those in need, and a grand laugh. Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois in 1917, she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1930 and. Obituaries Home News Obituaries. She completed her bachelors degree at Viterbo College (University) with a major in education and a minor in music. ssj-tosf - Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis Born in. At that time, she studied occupational therapy in Des Moines, and served as activity director at Willis Adult Day Care. She began her teaching career with middle grades in Carroll and Hills, Iowa and at St. Marys Ridge, Wisconsin before moving into high school teaching. After a years sabbatical, Sister Jean was appointed the Director of Mission Integration for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, a position she held until 2016. Sister Rita was born on August 12, 1928 in Early, Iowa to Elizabeth (Faber) and Leo Jansen. Eight women from Manitowoc Franciscan Sisters have died from COVID-19 Sister Margaret Ann made first profession of vows on August 12, 1948 and final vows on August 9, 1954. Fast. Sister Pat made first profession of vows on August 12, 1949, and final profession on August 9, 1955. From there she moved to the Religious Studies Department at Viterbo College, where she ministered from 1993 to 2000. In 2000, she moved to La Crosse where she was the assistant development director for FSPA until 2007. She made first profession of vows in 1956 and final vows in 1962. For almost 30 years she ministered in junior and senior high schools as a teacher and principal in Wisconsin, Washington, Guam and Montana. Praying to Mary helped her make the decision about religious life. In 1990, Sister Karolyne moved to Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin where she helped with hospitality and served as cabin manager. Obituaries We thank God for the lives of our Sisters who have moved on to Eternal Life and their impact throughout their many years of service within the vowed religious life. Sister FrancesYanisch, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 90, died on Friday, April 24, 2020 at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wisconsin after a battle with cancer. In 2008 she moved to Villa St. Joseph and served as a volunteer there until her health began to fail. She completed her high school at St. Rose High School in La Crosse. She received a bachelors degree in home economics and English from Viterbo College (University), La Crosse and did additional studies at Marquette University, Milwaukee. She began her tertiary education at Viterbo College (University) in the field of education. Whenever anyone suggested that she would end up at the convent, she objected. Born in New York City, Sr. Cecelia was one of six children, four brothers and a sister. LSAP Resource Guide Community Engagement & Participatory Action In 1994, she moved to Mobile, Alabama and ministered as a teachers aide and resource teacher for eight years before retiring to St. Rose Convent in 2002. She specifically enjoyed cat sitting while family and friends would go on vacation. Sister Bernadette Milada Prochaska was born on June 15, 1932 in Montfort (Castle Rock), Wisconsin to Frank and Victoria (Roh) Prochaska, where she grew up with her nine brothers and sisters. Coming to us from Dayton, Ohio, Sister Loraine entered the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1950 and professed perpetual vows in 1955. Posted on March 1, 2023 February 6, 2023. These four congregations originated from the same Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . For the next 20 years she ministered as an art teacher in high schools in Wisconsin (Superior, Green Bay, and at Viterbo College), as an art and religion teacher in Wausau, Wisconsin and Miles City, Montana. Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) In 1991, the FSPA sponsored a Chair in Global Education at Viterbo University. On October 27, 2021, Sister Gale Bednarek, our resident Scripture scholar, left us for the fullness of Gods light and love. She earned a bachelors degree in history with minors in English and sociology from Viterbo College (University) in La Crosse and a masters degree from St. Louis University in American history and Asian studies. In 1989, with the close of FSPA regions, Sister Evelyn was called to serve as assistant treasurer for the FSPA congregation in La Crosse. After high school, she helped on the farm, as two of her brothers were in the service. She loved life and the gifts God gave her during each phase of life. The day after her 21st birthday she was in a serious car accident. Later she returned to her baptismal name. Sister Joan was received into the FSPA novitiate on August 12, 1957, and was given the name Sister Vernamae. As boarders, Sister Margaret and Helen got home one weekend a month. Being one with all people was not just an idea for Sandy; it was the reality she sought. One of her favorite quotes was, God does not ask us to be successful, but to be faithful. And faithful, she was as she visited and brought communion to the sick and elderlyeven organizing a potluck luncheon for seniors at her Las Vegas parish each month for 17 years. From 1986 to 1989, Sister Margaret Ann served as Director of Development of Catholic Schools for the Superior Diocese. She had a quick wit and always had a come back for everything. With her health declining, Sister Clara Mae moved to Villa St. Joseph in 2015. At the end of her junior year, she informed her parents that she felt called to religious life. She professed vows on August 12, 1942 and made final profession on August 9, 1948. During that time, she took additional bookkeeping courses at Indiana University. In 1997, Sister Cecilienne retired to Cedar Rapids where she taught ESL classes and private music lessons until moving to St. Rose Convent in 2009. She used her collected skills and knowledge as the first director of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse a position she held from 1984 to 1987. In 2003 Sister Rosile retired and volunteered at Clare Center in Spokane. Celebrating the Life of Sr. Gerarda Augustyniak, The Franciscan Sisters join other Women Religious in grieving the shooting in Colorado Springs, LSAP Resource Guide Community Engagement & Participatory Action. She attended Mount Carmel Catholic School, which included elementary and secondary classes. Your gifts connect you to our ongoing ministries and honor Sisters who are your former teachers, friends or family . In 1991, her fathers need again took her to Guttenberg where she worked for the North Eastern Iowa Rehabilitation Association, providing therapy to individuals and institutions in Clayton County. Franciscan Sister Anna Ahern dies at 91 - Catholic Philly Her devotion for the missions remained with her long after she left the South. Sister Rosewyn Meyer, FSPA was there and spoke many times with Helen. She was in the 70th year of religious profession as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA). She was always exploring the latest spiritual book or philosophy. From 1963 to 1968, Sister Bernadette ministered as superintendent of Catholic schools on the island of Guam, returning there at the request of the Bishop in 1971 for another five years. She could usually be found volunteering some place at Villa St. Joseph helping other sisters. She didnt let her physical infirmities bring her spirits down. PDF 140 Years - Sisters of St. Francis - Sisters of St. Francis Her gift of music was shared in many ways instrumentally, vocally and even to the point of creating enjoyable parodies for special occasions. Her first profession of vows was made on August 12, 1955. Sister Anita (Mary Kenneth) Beskar, FSPA, died April 23, 2022, just shy of her 90th birthday, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wisconsin. From 2016 to 2019, Sister Jean was back at Viterbo University teaching classes in Franciscan Traditions and Values. Is a publication about the Bernardine Center in Chester, PA. She made her first vows on August 12, 1951. His grip weakened and she later spoke of this as her second baptism. Separate from the happy memories of growing up on the farm, there was the time a cyclone picked up the barn and flattened it. Her final days of retirement were at Villa St. Joseph. After high school, she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse. From 2001 to 2009, while traveling back and forth to Cameroon, Sister Anita lived in the formation house of the congregation where, as she put it, she moved from a ministry of doing to the ministry of being. In 2009, she was invited to continue the ministry of being at Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin. Sister Lourdine Bielawski, 90, of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, died Feb. 3 at St. Joseph Villa, Reading, where she had resided since 2012.