Sr. Duchesne Maxwell, OP, died Aug. 2, 2025, at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, Wis. Her remembering service and memorial Mass will take place 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in St. Clara Chapel, Sinsinawa. Casey-McNett Funeral Home and Cremation Services is handling arrangements.
She was born Nov. 27, 1932, to Charles and Loretta (Peasinger) Maxwell in Omaha, Neb., and named Mary. She professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1953 and received the religious name Sister Duchesne. She earned a BA in English and an MA in library science from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, Ill.
Sister Duchesne’s ministry was dedicated to teaching and pastoral care. She taught at St. Thomas More School, Chicago; St. James School, Kenosha, Wis.; and Blessed Sacrament School, Sioux City, Ia. She then served as librarian at Newman High School, Wausau, Wis. She ministered as both teacher and librarian at Aquin Central Catholic High School, Freeport, Ill. Sister Duchesne was assistant principal at Central Catholic High School, Bloomington, Ill., where she also served as principal, and at Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay, Wis. She then served on the leadership council of the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation and also served the Congregation as prioress at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque, Ia. She was assistant administrator at Queen of Peace High School, Burbank, Ill. She served as CPE at Immanuel Medical Center and was chaplain at Children’s Hospital UNMC-Clark, both Omaha. Sister Duchesne then was director of pastoral care at Catholic Eldercare, Minneapolis, and coordinator of the Dominican Center, Spokane, Wash. She returned to Omaha and served as chaplain at Bergan Mercy Hospital. Sister Duchesne moved to Sinsinawa Mound in 2010 and then moved to St. Dominic Villa in 2013. In her 12 years as a resident, she offered compassion to everyone. Staff, residents, and Sisters knew her loving embrace.
Sister Duchesne was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Martin, John, Lawrence, and Charles Maxwell; and her sister, Bonnie Pryor. She is survived by her sister, Loretta Maxwell; nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., 53824, or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.