BVM sisters celebrate diamond jubilees
The following Jubilation stories appeared in The Witness in our Aug. 21 and 28 issues:
DUBUQUE — Fifteen Sisters of Charity, BVM with ties to the Archdiocese of Dubuque will celebrate 75 years in religious life this fall. The jubilarian group also includes sisters celebrating 73, 72 and 70 years.
They are among 29 diamond jubilarians who will gather in the Mount Carmel Motherhouse Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sept. 11, 2016, for a liturgy of thanksgiving.
All sisters listed are retired and living at Mount Carmel.
The following seven sisters entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1943. They professed first vows on March 19, 1946, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
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Sister Julia Acosta, BVM (Lorenzo)
Sister Julie Acosta was born in Des Moines, Iowa. Sister Julie taught at St. Joseph ES in New Hampton and St. Patrick ES in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She taught elementary and secondary school in Rock Island, Chicago, Cicero, Wilmington and Mundelein, Illinois; and Memphis Tennessee.
Sister Jean M. Byrne, BVM (Jean Francis)
Sister Jean M. Byrne was born in Chicago. Sister Jean served as congregational volunteer for the Sisters of Charity, BVM in the Mount Carmel archives and personnel offices in Dubuque. She taught elementary and secondary school in Council Bluffs, Des Moines and West Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago; and Butte, Montana.
Sister Eleanor Craggs, BVM
Sister Eleanor Craggs was born in Chicago. Sister Eleanor was a congregational volunteer for the Sisters of Charity, BVM, serving as Mount Carmel motherhouse secretary in Dubuque. She taught elementary and secondary school and was vice principal in Pasadena, Glendale, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, California. She was mistress of postulants at Guadalupe College in Los Gatos, California.
Sister Rose André Koehler, BVM
Sister Rose André Koehler was born in Boone, Iowa. Sister Rose André was principal at St. Anthony ES in Dubuque. She taught elementary and junior high school and was principal in Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago; Butte, Montana; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Stockton, California. She served as teacher aide/tutor in Montgomery, Alabama.
Sister Jane McDonnell, BVM (Bonaventure)
Sister Jane McDonnell was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. Sister Jane taught at Clarke University in Dubuque and served in parish ministry at St. Edward Parish in Waterloo, Iowa. She taught secondary school in Sioux City, Iowa; Chicago; and Glendale, California. She served in parish ministry in Minot, North Dakota.; and Medicine Lake, Montana; and as coordinator for an ecumenical peace and justice organization in Chicago. Sister Jane died on Aug. 30. Her obituary will be featured in the Sept. 11 issue of The Witness.
Sister Karen Pollard, BVM
Sister Karen Pollard was born in Milwaukee. Sister Karen taught at St. Anthony ES in Dubuque. She taught elementary school and was principal in Chicago and Round Lake, Illinois; Jackson, Mississipi; and St. Louis, where she also served in prison, detention home, and criminal justice ministry.
Sister Mary Frances Shafer, BVM (Francis Edward)
Sister Mary Frances Shafer was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Sister Mary Frances taught at Holy Family ES in Mason City, Iowa, and at Clarke University in Dubuque, and served as vice president and president of the BVM congregation. She taught elementary school and was principal in Chicago and Pontiac, Illinois; St. Louis; and Wichita, Kansas. She served as administrative assistant to superintendent of schools in Kansas City, Missouri.; diocesan director of lay ministry in Great Falls, Mont.; and personnel director for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois. In retirement, she served in liturgy work at Mount Carmel in Dubuque.
The following four sisters entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1944. They professed first vows on March 19, 1947, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1952.
Sister Barbara Cerny, BVM
Sister Barbara Cerny was born in Chicago. Sister Barbara taught at St. Anthony ES and Wahlert HS in Dubuque, where she also served as provincial for the BVM congregation. She taught elementary and secondary school in Emmetsburg, Iowa; Chicago; and Tujunga and Los Angeles, California. She served as hospital Eucharistic minister in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Sister Carol Frances Jegen, BVM
Sister Carol Frances Jegen was born in Chicago. Sister Carol Frances taught elementary and secondary school at Holy Family ES in Mason City, Iowa; St. Louis; and Milwaukee. She ministered as college/university teacher, administrator, professor and professor emerita in Chicago.
Sister Mary McElmeel, BVM (Eugenne)
Sister Mary McElmeel was born in Delhi, Iowa, and entered the BVM congregation from St. Mary Parish in Manchester, Iowa. Sister Mary taught at St. Anthony ES in Dubuque and St. Jude ES in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She served as assistant novice mistress and assistant administrator/administrator for the Mount Carmel motherhouse in Dubuque, where she also ministered as parish pastoral associate. She taught elementary school in Davenport, Iowa; Chicago; San Francisco and Glendale, California; and Omaha, Nebraska. She volunteered in Hispanic parish ministry in Kankakee, Illinois.
Sister Mary L. Stokes, BVM (Charlotte)
Sister Mary Stokes was born in Chicago. Sister Mary was on the faculty at Clarke University in Dubuque. She was an elementary and secondary school teacher in Des Moines, Iowa; San Francisco; Lincoln, Nebraska; Boulder, Colorado; and St. Paul, Minnesota, where she also worked in hospital admissions and as data entry operator.
The following sister entered the BVM congregation on Feb. 2, 1946. She professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1948, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1953.
Sister Mary Angela Buser, BVM
Sister Mary Angela Buser was born in Halstead, Kansas. Sister Mary Angela served as college teacher and placement coordinator at Clarke University in Dubuque. She taught elementary school and was principal in Lead, South Dakota.; West Hempstead, New York.; Kansas City, Missouri; and Chicago, where she was also volunteer tutor at a literacy/
employment center.
The following two sisters entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946. They professed first vows on March 19, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954.
Sister Janita Curoe, BVM
Sister Janita Curoe was born in Bernard, Iowa, and entered the BVM congregation from Sacred Heart Parish in Fillmore, Iowa. Sister Janita taught elementary school and was principal in Davenport, Iowa; Memphis and Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Clarksdale and Jackson, Mississippi. She served as county literacy coordinator, volunteer tutor, and specialist tutor in Canton, Mississippi.
Sister Carl Loras Pilmaier, BVM
Sister Carl Loras Pilmaier was born in Dubuque. Sister Carl Loras was elementary school teacher at St. Jude in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She ministered as librarian in Urbandale, Iowa, where she later served as volunteer resident advocate at a care center. She was elementary school teacher and principal in Davenport, Iowa; Chicago and Wilmington, Illinois; Memphis, Tennessee; Seattle; Milwaukee; and Lincoln, McCook, Plattsmouth and Fairbury, Nebraska.
The following sister initially entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946. (From 1970-85, she left to take care of her parents.) She re-entered the congregation Sept. 23, 1985, professed first vows July 26, 1986, and final vows July 9, 1988. Sister celebrates with her original Set of 1946.
Sister Dorothy Gaffney, BVM
Sister Dorothy Gaffney was born in Chicago. Sister Dorothy taught at St. Anthony ES and served as associate administrator and administrative assistant for the BVM congregation at Mount Carmel, Dubuque. She taught elementary and secondary school in Des Moines, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; Butte, Montana; Chicago; Boulder, Colorado; and San Francisco. She served as high school administrative assistant/secretary, on parish office staff, and as hospice volunteer in Chicago.
(from Aug. 28, 2016 issue):
DUBUQUE — Fourteen Sisters of Charity, BVM will celebrate 75 years in religious life this fall. The jubilarian group also includes sisters celebrating 73, 72 and 70 years.
They are among 29 diamond jubilarians who will gather in the Mount Carmel Motherhouse Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa, on Sept. 11, 2016, for a liturgy of thanksgiving.
Unless otherwise indicated, all sisters listed are retired and living at Mount Carmel.
The following two sisters entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1943. They professed first vows on March 19, 1946, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
Sister Geneve Moran, BVM
Sister Geneve Moran was born in Chicago. Sister Geneve taught elementary and secondary school in Fort Dodge, Iowa; Casper, Wyoming; West Hempstead, New York; and Chicago and Wilmette, Illinois, where she also served as school secretary and assistant librarian.
Sister Rita Mary Zander, BVM (Magdalene)
Sister Rita Mary Zander was born in Chicago. Sister Rita was an elementary and secondary school teacher in Des Moines, Iowa; San Francisco, San Jose and Palm Springs, California; Butte and Missoula, Montana; and Las Vegas, Nevada. She also served as school treasurer in Butte.
The following two sisters entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1944. They professed first vows on March 19, 1947, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1952.
Sister Mary Ann Lenore Eifert, BVM
Sister Mary Ann Lenore Eifert was born in Cleveland. Sister Mary Ann Lenore taught elementary/middle school in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Los Angeles, N. Hollywood and Glendale, California; and Wichita, Kansas. She served as a volunteer in Glendale.
Sister Mary Enid Lodding, BVM
Sister Mary Enid was born in Chicago. Sister Mary Enid taught elementary school in Chicago, Rock Island and East Moline, Illinois; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Seattle; and Muscatine, Davenport and Iowa City, Iowa, where she also served in parish ministry. In Illinois, she was director of religious education in Addison and Arlington Heights, where she also served as pastoral associate.
The following 10 sisters entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946. They professed first vows on March 19, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954.
Sister Margaret Devereaux, BVM (Williamette)
Sister Margaret was born in Chicago. Sister Margaret taught elementary school and was principal in Chicago and Wilmington, Illinois; Clinton, Iowa; Chattanooga and Nashville, Tennessee; and San Francisco. She was parish director of religious education in Cleveland, Tennessee. Also in Illinois, she served as administrator for the BVM congregation in Chicago and as volunteer tutor in Oak Park.
Sister Dolores Doohan, BVM (Sarah James)
Sister Dolores was born in San Francisco. Sister Dolores taught elementary school in Chicago; Missoula, Montana; Sacramento, California; Kauai, Hawaii; and Portland, Oregon.
Sister Helen Jeanne Hurley, BVM
Sister Helen Jeanne was born in Lake Forest, Illinois. Sister Helen Jeanne taught elementary and secondary school and was assistant principal and principal in Chicago, Rock Island and East Moline, Illinois. She serves as part-time math tutor in Chicago, where she resides.
Sister Marian Hurley, BVM (William Marie)
Sister Marian Hurley was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sister Marian taught elementary school and was principal in Grayslake, Maywood and Chicago, Illinois; West Hempstead, New York; and San Francisco. She was parish minister, pastoral associate and director of elementary religious education in Los Angeles, where she currently volunteers and resides.
Sister Marie Neff, BVM (Charles Marie)
Sister Marie Neff was born in Kansas City, Missouri. Sister Marie taught elementary school and was principal in San Francisco and Petaluma, California; Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; and Wichita, Kansas.
Sister Kathleen M. O’Sullivan, BVM (Donall)
Sister Kathleen O’Sullivan was born in San Francisco. Sister Kathleen taught elementary school and was principal in Butte and Missoula, Montana; Chicago; San Francisco; and Kauai, Hawaii. Also in Butte and Missoula, she served as religious education teacher and coordinator, parish minister and volunteer, receptionist, hospice coordinator and peace group volunteer.
Sister Mary Ernest Rothe, BVM
Sister Mary Ernest Rothe was born in Burbank, California. Sister Mary Ernest taught elementary school in Chicago; Phoenix, Tucson and Tempe, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; and Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Montrose, Stockton, Sylmar and Glendale, California, where she also served as director of religious education and as tutor.
Sister Kathleen Spurlin, BVM (Bernardone)
Sister Kathleen Spurlin was born in Nevis, Minnesota. Sister Kathleen taught elementary and secondary school in Butte and Missoula, Montana; San Francisco; Kauai, Hawaii; Phoenix; Houston; and Clarksdale, Mississippi. Also in Mississippi, she ministered as prison chaplain in Leakesville and Parchman, and as hospice volunteer chaplain in Hattiesburg. She served in campus/youth ministry in Houston.
Sister Suzanne Stopper, BVM (Carmelita)
Sister Suzanne Stopper was born in Detroit. Sister Suzanne taught elementary and secondary school in Chicago; Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix, Arizona; and Santa Barbara, Burbank and Glendale, California, where she also serves as a volunteer. Sister lives in Montrose, California.
Sister Joan Stritesky, BVM (Magdaletta)
Sister Joan Stritesky was born in Chicago. Sister Joan taught elementary school and was principal in Rock Island, Illinois; San Francisco; Boulder, Colorado; and Council Bluffs and Des Moines, Iowa, where she also served in family life education. She was director of elementary schools for the Diocese of Denver. She served as diocesan consultant in Memphis, Tennessee. In the Chicago area, Sister ministered on the religious education staff in Elmwood and as coordinator of associates for the BVM congregation.
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