SINSINAWA — Sister Clarus Jonaitis, OP, died Oct. 19, 2013, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Oct. 23, 2013, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Clarus made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 6, 1940, and her final profession Aug. 6, 1943. She taught for 49 years, including 16 as an art teacher. Sister Clarus served in Illinois, Maryland, New York, Wisconsin, California and Nebraska.
SINSINAWA — Sister Ruth Roland, OP, died Oct. 12, 2013, at the Sinsinawa Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. Her religious name was Sister Estevan. Natural burial took place Oct. 14, 2013, in the Motherhouse Cemetery. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Oct. 18, 2013.
Sister Ruth made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 7, 1941, and her final profession Aug. 7, 1944. She taught for 22 years and served as principal for six years and school business officer for two years. Sister Ruth cared for the needs of the elderly for 37 years. She served in Wisconsin, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Washington.
Sr. Rita Clara Blau, a Franciscan Sister of Mary for 59 years and a licensed practical nurse, died Sunday morning, September 29, 2013, at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Mo. She was 82.
SINSINAWA — Sister Dorothy Hughes, OP (Marie Matthew), died Sept. 25, 2013, at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Sept. 30, 2013, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Dorothy made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1948, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1951. She taught home economics for seven years, served as a dietitian for 15 years, and ministered in adult education for 43 years. Sister Dorothy served in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
SINSINAWA — Sister Barbara Tilkens, OP (Adella), died Aug. 30, 2013, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Sept. 6, 2013, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Barbara made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Feb. 4, 1953, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1958. She taught for 19 years, served in administration for two years, and ministered as support staff for 16 years and as a chaplain for 13 years. Sister Barbara served in South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Illinois, Montana, Alabama, and Iowa.
SINSINAWA — Sister Helen O’Neill, OP (Patrick Mary), died Aug. 25, 2013, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa on August 29, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Helen made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican on February 3, 1945, and her final profession August 4, 1948. She taught elementary school for 20 years, three while also serving as principal, and ministered at the college level as administrator for two years and teacher for 18 years.
MILWAUKEE — Sister Bernadette (Bernie) Kalscheur, formerly known as Sister Herman, died on August 6 at the age of 92 at Sacred Heart Center in Milwaukee.
She was born to Herman and Helena Kalscheur on January 1, 1921, in Pine Bluff, WI. She was a member of the School Sisters of St. Francis (SSSF) in Milwaukee for the past 76 years.
BRIDGETON, Mo. — A funeral Mass was celebrated August 1 in the The Sarah Community chapel in Bridgeton, MO, for Sr. Mary Catherine Ann Dahmen, a Franciscan Sister of Mary for 56 years who provided housekeeping and dietary help for the sisters. Sister Mary Catherine Ann died July 28, 2013 at The Sarah Community. She was 103. Her burial was in Resurrection Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.
Born on Easter Sunday in 1910, in Springfield Township, Wis., she left school after the sixth grade to help her mother care for the home and the children. She worked as a housekeeper until her father’s illness in 1952 brought her home to be with her mother. She then worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis., where she met the Sisters of St. Mary. She entered the community in 1957 and received the name Sr. Mary Catherine Ann. She professed final vows on February 11, 1965. (In 1987, the Sisters of St. Mary of St. Louis and the Sisters of St. Francis of Maryville, Mo., reunited as the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.)
SINSINAWA — Sister Carmelita McDowell, OP, died July 13, 2013, at St. Dominic Villa. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa, July 16, 2013, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Carmelita made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1947, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1950. She taught for 30 years and served as principal for four years and tutor for two years. Sister Carmelita served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation in various leadership positions and as support staff for 18 years. She served in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Alabama and Wyoming.
MILWAUKEE — School Sister of St. Francis Nila Bauer, who lived her religious vocation in education, died July 16 at Sacred Heart Convent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sister was 86.
The daughter of Edward and Agnes Bauer, she was born October 16, 1926, in Wilmette, Illinois. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis June 13, 1944; made her first profession of vows June 21, 1946; and final (perpetual) vows June 21, 1952.
