May they experience the fullness of life in Christ. . .
Profiles of the Sisters of Notre Dame who have passed away during 2009
Upon returning to Toledo, she ministered as Education Consultant in the Catholic Schools Office for the Toledo Diocese from 1977-1992. Later in life Sister found ways to give of herself in service through her work in the community health insurance office, in the diocesan school office, and in assisting busy school principals. She also wrote articles for teacher magazines.
After retiring from her cherished ministry of teacher formation she gave her energies to teaching English as a second language to adults, and to tutoring children. She delighted in helping a child fill in a gap in learning. In her own quiet way she also continued to mentor younger sisters.
Sr. Mary Helen Rita Mohr died on August 27, 2009 at the age of 80. She chose to attend Notre Dame Academy where she first met the Sisters of Notre Dame. It was during these years that she was drawn to religious life. Following graduation from the Academy, she entered the Sisters of Notre Dame on October 12, 1947. On August 10th of the following year she was invested and received the name Sr. Mary Helen Rita.
As a young novice, Sister served as a teacher in primary and intermediate classrooms. In 1962, Sister began her service in Papua New Guinea (PNG). She gave tirelessly of herself to the people of this far-off nation for 28 years, ministering as a teacher at Fatima High School, St. Anselm School, Notre Dame High School and Maria Kwin Center. Sister left PNG in 1990 when she was asked to come to the Motherhouse in Rome, Italy and serve as Assistant Treasurer. After eight years of service in Rome, in 1999, she returned to her beloved Papua New Guinea where she spent the next three and a half years as Directress of Candidates and of girls in Formation Year of Faith.
Sister returned home to Toledo in September of 2002 and spent two years as Director of Religious Education at St. Michael’s parish in Gibsonburg, OH.
Sr. Mary Michaeleen Dugan, died at the age of 85 on August 15, 2009, at the Provincial Center in Toledo. Sister entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1942 and received the name Sr. Mary Michaeleen.
Sister was a creative elementary teacher touching the lives of students in grades 2 and 3 for 51 years. Her students loved her. One former student recalled, "Sr. Michaeleen was our favorite teacher. It was our memories of her that inspired some of us to enter the teaching profession." Children felt comfortable and safe with Sr. Mary Michaeleen. A member of the Health Care Staff recalled how in these last years of Sister’s life, she would light up when children would come to visit with the patients.
Sr. Mary Michaeleen lived and ministered in many schools and parishes during her religious life including St. Paul, Norwalk; St. Wendelin, Fostoria; St. Joseph, Maumee; Immaculate Conception, Bellevue; St. John, Delphos; St. Wendelin, Fostoria, St. Joseph, Fremont; St. Mary, Sandusky; Lial Convent, Whitehouse and at St. Ann, Christ the King, Gesu, and the Provincial Center in Toledo.
Sr.
Mary Rita Kretz died on June 21, 2009, at 86 years old.
She grew up on the family farm at St. Michael Ridge,
Ohio ( near Defiance). Being the oldest girl,
she soon learned how to cook, sew, keep house and care for her four younger
brothers and one sister.
Sister Mary Varonica Haaser, was born in Fremont, Ohio, and died on May 21, 2009, at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo at the age of 69.
As a high school sophomore, she responded to the call she felt within and joined the Aspirants at Notre Dame Academy. Sister entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1957 and received the name Sister Mary Varonica. For the following 46 years, she served in food service and as an elementary school teacher.
Throughout her years in food service, teaching, child care and many other volunteer ministries, Sister Mary Varonica strove always to see the face of Christ in those she served. While teaching, Sister Mary Varonica was known for recognizing the face of Jesus especially in those students who struggled to learn. She had a wonderful gift for using a student’s interest or experiences to help them learn. Creating games or activities based on their interests seemed to unlock doors for many students and make them eager to learn.
Sister's desire to serve the poor and needy was evident by her various volunteer ministries at Hope for Families, St. Vincent's Pediatrics, home care, and tutoring services. Sister Mary Varonica lived and ministered in many schools and parishes during her religious life including St. Wendelin, Fostoria; St. Paul, Norwalk; St. John, Delphos; St. Joseph, Fremont; Lial Convent, Whitehouse; Sacred Heart, St. Michael, St. Mary, Maria Child Care, Mary Immaculate School, Notre Dame Academy and the Provincial Center in Toledo.
Sister Luella Marie Fisher was born in Fremont, Ohio, and died in Toledo at the age of 88 on May 17, 2009. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1941 and received the name Sister Mary Hilbert.
Sister began her life of service as a cook in various convents throughout the Diocese. After almost ten years, she then taught third and fourth grade students for the next ten years. Following her time in the classroom, she again helped in food service, housekeeping, nursing assistance and other types of community service.
Sister lived in and ministered in many school and parishes during her religious life including Immaculate Conception, Marygrove; St. Mary, Leipsic; St. Mary, Sandusky; St. Wendelin, Fostoria, Sacred Heart, Bethlehem; St. Joseph, Maumee; St. Paul, Norwalk; St. John, Delphos; St. Michael, St. Michael Ridge; St. Joseph, Fremont; Lial Convent; Rosary Care Center, Sylvania; Holy Rosary, St. James, Sacred Heart, St. Michael, St. Mary , Mary Immaculate School, Notre Dame Academy and the Provincial Center in Toledo.
Upon celebrating her golden jubilee in 1993, Sister received a camera and used it to capture magnificent scenes of the sky and water. One of these "The Wonder of a Rainbow" won her an award in the North American Open Amateur Photography Contest. She had a contagious smile and thoroughly loved fishing and other outdoor activities.
Sister Mary Sharon Baier was 88 years old when she died on May 11, 2009, after 68 years of religious profession.
She grew up in Sandusky, Ohio, and ministered as a primary teacher and elementary school principal. Sister’s influence later extended beyond the classroom to the broader school community sharing her expertise as a Master Teacher with many other teachers throughout the Diocese and beyond.
She later served in many volunteer ministries within the community and at St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. The many schools and parishes where she served include: St. Wendelin, Fostoria; St. Joseph, Maumee; Sacred Heart, Fremont; Lial Convent; St. Mary, Leipsic; St. Joseph, Maumee; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Carmel, Indiana; and Gesu, St. Mary, St. James, Sacred Heart, Christ the King, Mary Immaculate School, and St. Hyacinth, Toledo.
Sister was known for her "down-to-earth" way of being. "What you see is what you get," aptly describes her forthrightness and humor. You always knew where you stood with her, and somehow you instinctively knew you were held side by side with her in the Father’s hands. Mischievous and full of surprises, she brought a caring and fun-filled presence wherever she was.
Sister
Esther Marie
When Esther was a young woman, the yeast of God’s love began to rise within her and she responded by making the decision to enter the Catholic Church. While this decision cost her dearly in terms of relationships with her family, she remained faithful to the life and love growing within her. She learned much from Mary, the mother of Jesus, who also nurtured the life of Jesus within. It seemed God was working in her as one kneads the dough to be baked for bread, and Esther responded with strength and generosity. Soon after her baptism in 1948, Esther entered the Sisters of Notre Dame where she began a faithful and loving life of service. Her Profession was on August 13, 1952. As Sister Mary Thomas Aquinas, and then later Sister Esther Marie, she found her way into the hearts and lives of her sisters and many students and their families. It seems that the kitchen is the heart of a home, and the kitchens and cafeterias where Sister served were no exception.
For Sister Esther Marie, life was about recognizing and sharing the blessings she had received. She allowed the gentle and joyful spirit within her to be a source of encouragement and nourishment for others in much the same way as the ordinary and simple bread of our daily lives sustains us. Her care, both in food service and when assisting with laundry, brought a great dignity to the daily needs to which she tended.
Sr. Mary Linus Gerdeman was born Mildred Catherine on born on October 8, 1915, the third oldest of seven children born to William and Mary Gerdeman. Following 73 years of
religious profession, she entered eternal life on April 19, 2009.Mildred’s life unfolded in the context of a loving and faith-filled family. Her parents especially witnessed and nurtured a life of prayer. Desiring a Catholic high school education, she resided as a border at Notre Dame Academy . She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame after her senior year. She furthered her education with a BS degree from Mary Manse College, Toledo; a degree in library science and a MA in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.
Sister Mary Linus knew well the mystery and secret of giving her life away. Generosity and deep concern marked her many years of teaching, both on the elementary and secondary levels. For 13 years, Sister Mary Linus taught in elementary schools of the Toledo Diocese, serving at St. Mary, Sacred Heart, Gesu, and Ladyfield in Toledo; St. Mary, Sandusky; St. Joseph, Maumee; and St. John, Delphos. She continued to serve in secondary education on the faculties of St. Mary, Sandusky; St. John, Delphos; St. Wendelin, Fostoria and Notre Dame Academy, Toledo for an additional 28 years.
After leaving full-time classroom teaching, Sister used her gifts to organize various libraries, and shared God’s love through teaching English as a second language to Asian immigrants, reaching out to those in prison and jail, ministering to and praying with the elderly and drawing many people to return to their Catholic faith.
Sr. Mary Gerardis Kleman served God faithfully throughout her 73 years of religious life and died on January 28, 2009, at the age of 92. She was born Leopa Gertrude on November 19, 1916, and she was lovingly welcomed into the family of George and Margaret Kleman.
The middle child of five, she grew up in Sacred Heart, Toledo. From the early age of seven, Leopa felt drawn to give her heart in a special way to her beloved Jesus. Through her aunt, Sr. Mary Bernardin of the Chardon province, and her teachers at Sacred Heart, she came to know the Sisters of Notre Dame in her elementary years and to share their life as an aspirant during high school. She entered the postulancy in her senior year and soon received the name of Sr. Mary Gerardis. She received a BS degree at St. John’s College, Toledo; and an MA from the University of Notre Dame.
She embraced her many students during her 17 years of teaching grades 1-8. She served on the faculties of St. Joseph, Crestline; St. Joseph, Fremont; Immaculate Conception, Bellevue; St. Mary Sandusky; St. Paul, Norwalk; and St. Ann and St. Mary in Toledo. Then, her heart was stretched beyond the borders of northwest Ohio and she was missioned to Rome. Her years as secretary and translator for the Congregation involved much more than paper work. Each day was an offering of her heart to God and others.
Her meticulous service as translator played an invaluable role in helping her sisters know the foundress, Sr. Maria Aloysia and the early history of our Congregation.
She returned from Rome in 1996 after 43 years. Her presence in community at Lial Convent and at the Provincial Center was a reminder to allof the One to Whom she had given her life. She once said she "enjoyed memorizing poems and reciting them for audiences: whoever would listen!" This gift, along with her simplicity and willingness to wear some truly unique costumes, often made her a featured part of community programs and celebrations.
Sr. Mary Carolanne Riedy
entered into eternal life
on Saturday, January 3, 2009.
She was born Ursula Lucille Riedy to the family of Victor and Esther Mantey Riedy in Sandusky, Ohio on February 1, 1925. She was a constant learner and easily moved from school to office jobs in the community to the realization that religious life provided the one goal in her life that she could not refuse. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame on September 8, 1943, and made her vows on August 15, 1946.
Sr. Mary Carolanne attended Mary Manse College and then pursued her Masters Degree at the University of Notre Dame. Through many workshops and grants, she became certified in journalism, speech and drama and photography.
Sister spent the first twelve years of her teaching career in the elementary grades and then moved into the high schools. She served on the faculties of St. Joseph, Maumee; St. John, Delphos; St. Joseph, Fremont; St. Wendelin, Fostoria; St. Paul, Norwalk; and Sacred Heart, Ladyfield, and twenty-six and a half years at Notre Dame Academy in Toledo
She also became proficient in grant writing which, among other benefits, provided for close circuit TV at Notre Dame Academy (NDA). Her eagerness to facilitate the learning and living of others extended even to Papua New Guinea where the Sisters and students benefited from over $300,000.00 in grants. Under her watch, an expansion of the NDA Speech and Drama Department from one small class to a four year major offering in media and drama skills also took place.
For many years, Sr. Carolanne helped to keep community celebrations alive through her dedicated and meticulous photography. Sister’s focus on Jesus as her One Love allowed her to treasure the many pictures of her life. May she enjoy eternal life.