SINSINAWA — Sr. Nancy Rae Reisdorf, OP, died Dec. 10, 2021, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Her religious name was Sister Paolo. The funeral Mass was held at the Dominican motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Dec. 16, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery. Sister Nancy Rae made her first profession as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Aug. 5, 1960, and her perpetual profession Aug. 5, 1965. She taught for nine years and spent 18 years in higher education as a professor, teacher trainer, department chair, and educational innovator. Sister Nancy was a librarian for two years; principal and administrator for three years each; and then worked as a writer, facilitator, speaker, and tutor for 10 years. Her kindness and accompaniment of students and professional educators was appreciated. She was an innovator of new educational opportunities, creating classes and programs that involved coordination between educational and community entities that promoted awareness of global perspectives and cultures. She served in Illinois and Wisconsin.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sr. Nancy Rae served at Edgewood College, Madison, as professor, 1970-1973 and 1974-1989, and at Edgewood Campus School, Madison, as librarian and teacher, 1989-1991; principal, 1991-1994; and president, 1994-1997. She was a self-employed writer, facilitator, and speaker in southern and central Wisconsin, 1998-2008, and tutored students in the Oxford area, 2000-2004.
Sr. Nancy Rae was born May 4, 1938, in Madison, the daughter of Raymond and Louise (Saeman) Reisdorf. Her parents; a sister, Luann Lawrence; and a brother, Stephen Reisdorf, preceded her in death. She is survived by three brothers, Paul Reisdorf, Daniel Reisdorf, and Tom Reisdorf; nieces; nephews; and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared 61 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 Nancy Rae are available online at www.sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.