Sinsinawa Dominicans

Sister Virginia Ripp, OP, died April 18, 2023, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. She was one of seven children to grow up on the Charles "Carl" and Eleanor (Kalscheur) family farm near Cross Plains, Wis. In 1956, Virginia entered the Sinsinawa Dominicans and received the name Sr. Agneta. She earned a BA and an MA in history to support her teaching at an elementary school for six years in Wisconsin and history at high schools in Illinois and Texas. Virginia served the Sinsinawa congregation as secretary to the Prioress and Edgewood College, Madison, Wis., as administrative assistant to the academic dean/vice president for academic affairs. At the Dominican Center for Women, Milwaukee,...

Sister Mary Catherine Perkins, OP, died April 16, 2023, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. She was one of five children born to George and Norean (Cronin) Perkins. After receiving her bachelor's degree in French, she entered the Sinsinawa Dominicans congregation and received the name Sister Mary Cronan. Sister Mary Catherine taught French and Spanish in high schools in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Connecticut, Iowa and Wisconsin from 1954 to 1982. During this time, she earned her master's in Romance languages. She then served as administrator of the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis., for six years before moving to Bend, Ore., to minister from 1990 to 2004 with the Diocese of...

Sister Eldena Scholl O.P., died Aug 5, 2022, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. She was born to Arthur and Amelia (Rohner) Scholl, Dec 11, 1924 in Rockwell, Iowa. She was the youngest of five children. She is survived by nephews, nieces and her Dominican family. Eldena entered the Sinsinawa Dominicans and received the name Sister Marie Evan. From 1944 to 1964 she taught primary grades in Catholic schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Minnesota. From 1964 through 1968, she was part of the support staff at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque, Iowa and then at the Sinsinawa Motherhouse. In 1968, Eldena received a dispensation from the Dominican congregation. In 1982, Sister Eldena...

Sister Susan Hahn OP, died Aug. 4, 2022, at St Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. She was born to John and Susan (Marquette) Hahn Dec. 8, 1923, in Chicago. There were eight children. She is survived by one brother, Donald; nieces; nephew; the Dominican family; and many friends. Her funeral will be Aug. 15 and16 at Sinsinawa. Miller Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Sister Susan lived life fully. She loved her family; the Dominican Sisters; the thousands of first graders who she taught through the decades; and God, who guided her steps always. She brought joy and skilled teaching to students in New York, Illinois, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In 1968, she was sent to St. Vincent Ferrer...

Sister Margaret Ann "Peggy" Brennan, OP, died April 5, 2021. Professed in 1958, she taught in elementary and high schools in Nebraska, Illinois, Connecticut and Wisconsin. Sister Peggy served as secretary to the Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa at the motherhouse, Sinsinawa, Wis. She devoted 32 years to Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay, Wis. Sister Peggy delighted in each of her educational ministries and strove to instill the Dominican values of truth, compassion, justice, community, and partnership in her students. She was born May 20, 1935, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Kathryn (Fleming) Brennan. Her parents; three sisters, Catherine Marriott, Mary...

Sister Joan (Deirdre) O'Shea, O.P., died on Monday, Dec.7, 2020, at St. Elizabeth Manor in Footville, Wis. Private services will be held at Sinsinawa. As a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Joan shared her gifts over 70 years as a teacher, administrator, dean of students, chaplain, provincial, professor, pastoral minister, and university director of mission integration. Her bright light, abundant talents, and deep faith were shared in New York, Illinois, Italy, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Indiana, Florida and Wisconsin. Sister Joan was born in Chicago, Ill. on May 25, 1930, to Thomas and Catherine (Tuohy) O'Shea. She is survived by her sister, Therese Duranso of Madison, Wis.; nieces; and her...

Sister Esther Heffernan, OP, died Nov. 20, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green. Private services will be held at Sinsinawa. She became aware of poverty and inequality in the world as a child and worked for social justice her entire life. Sister Esther taught at St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha, Neb., for three years before dedicating nearly 50 years as a professor in the social science department at Edgewood College, Madison, Wis., where she was also department chair. She served as staff at St. John College, Cleveland, Ohio; provincial vicaress for the Southeast Province of her congregation; and post-doctoral fellow at Catholic University, Washington, D.C. Born as Jean Dolores April 22,...

Sister Marie Virginia Walters, OP, died Nov. 13, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green. Private services will be held at Sinsinawa. Sister Marie Virginia saw her primary ministry as serving God and people. She did this through teaching in Minneapolis; Columbia, S.C.; and Whitefish Bay, Wis., until she served in the bookshop at the Dominican Education Center, Sinsinawa. Sister Marie Virginia studied to become a pharmacist and returned to the Dominican Motherhouse, where she dedicated herself to meticulously and lovingly serving as pharmacist for 20 years and as consultant pharmacist for 13 years. She joined the St. Dominic Villa community in 2017. Born as Rosa Lee on Dec. 4, 1934, in Mount...

Sister Maria del Rey Hunt, OP, died Nov. 9, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green. Private services will be held at Sinsinawa. She was a social worker at Pilsen clinics, Chicago; St. Dominic Parish and School, Denver; and St. Leo Parish, Oakland, Calif., and helped with the parish census at St. Richard Parish, Omaha, Neb. Sister Maria del Rey ministered as chaplain at hospitals in Burbank and Redding, Calif.; as pastoral associate in Center, Texas; and as bereavement counselor in Kenosha, Wis. She served as a driver at Rosary College, River Forest, Ill. She joined the Motherhouse community in 2001 and the Villa community in 2006. Celina Harriet was born April 16, 1929, in Faust, N.Y., to...

Sister Dorothy (Marie Carl) Gabel, OP, died Oct. 30, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Professed in 1959, she taught at Edgewood High, Madison, Wis., and St. Cecilia, Omaha, Neb., and spent a total of 32 years teaching at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., and Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind. Sister Dorothy served as the program director for teacher preparation at the National Science Foundation. An accomplished science and education author, she was passionate about students learning science and doing the research to investigate the processes of both teaching and learning. She was an experimental scholar in chemical education research. Dorothy was born Jan. 2, 1936, in...

Sister Flannan McGuane, OP, died at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Oct. 28, 2020. Private services will be held at Sinsinawa. Professed in 1957, she served as culinary artist at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, and at Edgewood Convent, Madison, Wis. Sister Flannan managed the Motherhouse kitchen and bakery from 1960 to 2003, guiding novices, Sisters, and employees to feed the masses who resided at and visited Sinsinawa Mound. Youth learned the value of working hard and being a member of a team. Sister Flannan was known for her Irish lilt and creating Mound cinnamon bread, which is now a favorite of the Sisters, guests and people around the country. She joined the community at St....

Sister Michelle Germanson, OP, died Oct. 21, 2020, at MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, Ill. Private services will be held. She taught from 1966 to 1977 at St. Mark, Peoria, Ill., and St. Cajetan, Chicago, before becoming principal at SS. Peter and Paul, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 1977-1986, and serving as dean of students at Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest, Ill., 1986-1992. Sister Michelle's most awesome contribution to education was as president and president emerita of Trinity High School, River Forest, Ill., 1992-2019. Her tremendous energy and joy brought the love of sweet Jesus into every aspect of her life. She was born July 14, 1944, in Dixon, Ill., to Herbert and Florence...

Sister Estelle (Mary Cabrini) Wiltz, O.P., died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa. Private services will be held. Sister Estelle taught or served as principal for 42 years in parish elementary schools in Illinois, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. She served in various ministries at the Sinsinawa Motherhouse from 1989 to 1995. She was assistant prioress at Trinity Convent in River Forest, Ill., from 1995 to 1998 before returning to minister at the Motherhouse from 1998 to 2013. She joined the community at St. Dominic Villa in December 2013. Sister Estelle was born in Peoria, Ill., on June 1, 1927, to Arnold and Anna (Wedmire) Wiltz. She is...

Sister Helen (Marie Clara) Martin, OP, died Oct. 9, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Private services will be held. She taught and/or was principal at schools in Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota and Alabama. Sister Helen served the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa Congregation as vicaress provincial of the Southeast Province and prioress of St. Clara Convent at Sinsinawa, Wis., and Divine Providence Convent at Des Plaines, Ill. She joined the Motherhouse community in 2007 before serving as Dominican Center coordinator, Spokane, Wash., and joining the St. Dominic Villa community in 2016. Sister Helen was born in Ladd, Ill., Aug. 11, 1927, to James and Teresa...

Sister Carla Sonnenberg, O.P., died at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, on Monday, Sept. 21st. Private services will be held. Sister Carla's life was one of cheerful, generous service throughout the 63 years of her religious life. She assisted in the management of the Dominican Motherhouse at Sinsinawa for 26 years (1957-1983), in various ways, including Mound transportation services. For the next 27 years (1983-10) she offered her skills and services at Dominican High School, Whitefish Bay, Wis. In 2010 she returned to the Sinsinawa Motherhouse. In 2016, she joined the community at St. Dominic Villa. Anita Elizabeth was born in Wauwatosa, Wis., on March 2, 1926, to Charles and Loretta...

Sister Mary Ann (Wilberta) Heyd, O.P., died Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa. Private services will be held. Sister Mary Ann taught for 35 years in parish elementary schools in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. She directed religious education at St. Mary's in Portage, Wis., and St. Michael's, So. Sioux City, Neb., and served as pastoral associate at St. Thomas Aquinas, Kenosha, Wis. She coordinated outreach programs at St. Mary's in Kenosha before ministering at St. Dominic Villa for eight years. She retired in 2012, and joined the St. Dominic Villa community in 2016. Mary Ann was born in Peoria, Ill., on November 17, 1931, to...

Sister Patricia (Charissa) Smith, O.P., died at Sinsinawa on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. Private services will be held. Sister Patt taught in parish schools in Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York before serving in Bolivia for ten years. She taught at Regina High School, Minneapolis, and was then elected to the SE Provincial Council. After earning a master's degree in pastoral studies, she was campus minister at Rosary College (Ill.); at the Rosary Graduate School of Fine Arts, Florence, Italy; and at the University of Texas. After four years as SW Provincial Councillor, her last years of ministry were in Arizona parishes. In 2015, she brought her joyful presence to Sinsinawa. Patt was...

Sister Baptist Stohrer, O.P., died at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, on Monday, August 31, 2020. Private services will be held at Sinsinawa. A gifted musician, she taught at several grade and high schools before completing her graduate studies in Florence, Italy, and her Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1972 she began a long ministry of teaching at Rosary College (Dominican University) and completed in 2013--forty years of generous service. She retired to the Sinsinawa Motherhouse in 2014 and joined the community at St. Dominic Villa in 2017, continuing to share her musical gifts. Mary Ann Stohrer was born in Urbana, Ill., on April 13, 1927, to Walter and Elvera...

Sister Barbara (Richaria) Hutfless, O.P., died at St. Dominica Villa, Sinsinawa, August 6, 2020. Private services will be at Sinsinawa. Her culinary skills were evident in her ministry at the Motherhouse; Annunciation Convent, Minneapolis; and St. Joseph Convent, Sioux Falls, during the early years of her religious life. After receiving the B.S. degree from Edgewood College in 1979, she ministered as a primary grade teacher at St. Thomas Apostle, Chicago; Annunciation, Minneapolis; St. Thomas More, Englewood; St. Thomas Apostle, Chicago; St. Louis de Montfort and St. Germaine in Oak Lawn, Ill. She joined the community at Sinsinawa in 2008. Barbara was born in Omaha on March 21, 1941,...

Sister Colleen (Avia) McNicholas, O.P., died at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, August 3, 2020. Private services will be at Sinsinawa. Her life and ministries were devoted to teaching and educational administration. She taught in parish grade schools for ten years. She served as administrator at Sacred Heart School, Eagle Grove, Iowa; Central Catholic High School, Bloomington, Ill.; Regina High School, Minneapolis; and was associate superintendent of schools for the Peoria diocese. She ministered at Dominican University as education chair, dean of the school of education, director of the online education program, and researcher in the McGreal Center. Colleen was born in Chicago, July...

Sister Ruth Mary Coleman, O.P., entered eternal life on July 29, 2020. Private services will be held at the Sinsinawa Motherhouse. After religious profession in 1954, Sister Ruth Mary taught in parish schools in Sioux Falls, So. Dak.; Ventnor, N.J.; Peoria and Dixon, Ill. She was religious education coordinator in several Illinois parishes (Streator, Dixon, and Ottawa); in Alabama (Chickasaw and Mobile); and in Florida (North Miami and Fort Myers). She served as a spiritual director in Albuquerque, New Mex., before retiring to the Motherhouse in 2000. She joined the sisters' community at St. Dominic Villa in 2011. Patricia Ann was born in Oak Park, Ill., to Ruben and Ruth (Norton)...