Sister Virginia Helmann, OP, died April 1, 2025, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Her Remembering Service and funeral Mass will be held at St. Dominic Villa Thursday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. Casey-McNett Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
She was born July 4, 1935, to John and Ethel (Fitzpatrick) Helmann in Portage, Wis. She made profession with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1955 and received the religious name Sister John Matha. She earned her BA in primary education from Edgewood College, Madison, Wis.
Sr. Virginia’s ministry was dedicated to teaching. She taught at Visitation School and Epiphany School, Chicago, Ill.; St. Lawrence School, Faribault, Minn.; Nativity BVM School, Menominee, Ill.; Corpus Christi School, New York, N.Y.; Visitation School, Kewanee, Ill.; Blessed Sacrament School, Madison; and St. Clare School, Bloomington, Ill. She ministered in spiritual direction at St. Joseph Prayer Center in Kings Park and tutored at Our Lady of Mercy School in the Bronx, N.Y. She also ministered at Altheia School of Prayer while there. Sister Virginia served as holistic health therapist at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis. Together with Sister Ann Mallman, MM, Sister Virginia offered decades of spiritual presence and prayer to Sisters living at the Motherhouse. She filled her days at the Villa with laughter, love, and a deep gratitude for all.
Sister Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Ashley Fay, Joan Helmann, Colleen Hollender, and Mary Jane Helmann; and a brother, William Helmann. She is survived by several nieces, a nephew, grandnieces, grandnephews, and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.