SINSINAWA — Sister Estelle Wiltz, OP, died Oct. 21, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Her religious name was Sister Mary Cabrini. The funeral Mass was held at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Oct. 29, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Estelle made her first religious profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Aug. 5, 1947, and her perpetual profession Aug. 5, 1950. She taught for 22 years and served as principal for 19 years. Sister Estelle served her Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa as support staff, institutional buyer, pastoral minister, and assistant prioress at Trinity Convent for a combined total of 13 years. She served in Illinois, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Estelle served as principal at Sacred Heart, Reedsburg, 1969-1977, and at the motherhouse, Sinsinawa, as support staff in the Office of Development, 1989-1993; institutional buyer for Mound Services, 1993-1995; pastoral minister, 1998-2001; and computer support staff, 2001-2012.
Sister Estelle was born June 1, 1927, in Peoria, Ill., the daughter of Arnold and Anna Marie (Wedmire) Wiltz. Her parents; an infant sibling; five sisters, Columba Shedlock, Angela Mattingly, Florence Klockenga, Mary Barron, and Anne Mais; and three brothers, William Wiltz, George Wiltz, and Robert Wiltz, preceded her in death. She is survived by nieces, nephews and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared 73 years of religious life.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or at www.sinsinawa.org/donate online.
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Estelle are available online at www.sinsinawa.org/live Click on the “on demand” tab.