MILWAUKEE — School Sister of St. Francis Jane (Esdra) Hilger, who lived her religious vocation as an educator at nearly a dozen Catholic Schools in three states, died January 22, 2012, at St. Joseph Convent, Campbellsport, Wisconsin. Sister was 92.
The daughter of William and Amelia Hilger, she was born September 26, 1919, in Lannon, Wisconsin. She was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis June 13, 1936; made her first profession of vows August 11, 1938; and final (perpetual) vows August 8, 1944.
Sister Jane is survived by sisters Rita Hilger Ferris of Menasha, Wisconsin, and Sharon Stuettgen of Pewaukee, Wisconsin; brothers William Hilger of Hartland, Wisconsin, and Joseph Hilger of Pewaukee; nieces and nephews; and the School Sisters of St. Francis with whom she shared life for 76 years.
Beginning in 1937, Sister Jane spent half a century as a school teacher in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister taught at St. Clement School, Lancaster, 1957-1962. She retired to St. Joseph Convent in Campbellsport in 1986, where she volunteered in the garden, laundry, environmental services, and support services until 2002, and served in the ministry of prayer and presence until the time of her death.
A wake and Funeral Liturgy were held January 27, 2011 at St. Joseph Convent Chapel, Milwaukee, followed by burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.