Sisters of Providence

60-years

Sister Janet Gilligan

Sister Janet (Sister Janet Marie) Gilligan celebrates 60 years as a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., this year.

She entered the Congregation on Jan. 7, 1957, from St. Leo, Chicago. She professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1964. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

She earned a master’s degree and doctorate in English from Northern Illinois University.

In the Rockford Diocese, she taught at Northern Illinois University (1978-80 and 1985-86); she was editor at Economy Publication Company at Northern Illinois University (1980-81). Sister Janet also ministered in Indiana, France, New York and Nebraska, and currently is an archives assistant and grant writer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

School Sisters of St. Francis

MILWAUKEE—On June 17, more than 50 U.S. School Sisters of St. Francis celebrated milestone anniversaries of service as women religious. Among those honored are these who have served or who are from the Diocese of Rockford.

80 Years

Sister de Lourdes Rechenmacher

Sister de Lourdes was born in Naperville. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Alverno College in Milwaukee and a master’s degree in Education from Marquette University in Milwaukee. In the Diocese of Rockford, she taught at St. Mary School, McHenry (1961-1962 and 1965-1967) where she also served as principal (1962-1965). She also taught at St. Edward School, Rockford (1979-1981) and served as religious education coordinator for St. Edward Parish, Rockford (1981-1990).  She now resides in Milwaukee.

70 years

Sister Carmelyn Du Buque

Sister Carmelyn was born in Kankakee. Beginning in 1948, she ministered as a homemaker and administrator in Wisconsin and Illinois. In the Diocese of Rockford, she served as a homemaker at Madonna High School Convent, Aurora (1949-1956). She now serves in the ministry of prayer and presence at Clement Manor in Greenfield, Wisconsin (2006-present).   

Sister Donna Weiss

Sister Donna (Joachim) was born in Aurora. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Alverno College, Milwaukee and a master’s in Religious Studies from Mundelein College in Chicago. In the Diocese of Rockford, she taught in Aurora at St. Nicholas School (1966-1967), Our Lady of Good Counsel School (1975-1976), and Sacred Heart School (1976-1982) as well as served as secretary for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (1983-1987). She also taught at Cathedral of St. Peter School, Rockford (1967-1970). She resides in Milwaukee.

60 Years

Sister Frances Hicks

Sister Frances (Isabel Marie) was born in Chicago. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Alverno College, Milwaukee, a master’s degree in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and a master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Seattle University in Washington. In the Diocese of Rockford, she taught in Aurora at Our Lady of Good Counsel School (1959-1960), served as principal and teacher at St. Nicholas School (1967-1970), taught at St. Joseph School (1970-1974), and at Centro Cultural (1970-1974). She taught in Aurora public schools at Smith School (1975-1984) and at South School (1984-1985). She served in parish work in DeKalb (1991-1993) and at Centro Cuerpo de Cristo (1993-1998). She now is pastoral minister at Casa Alexia Mission in El Paso, Texas (2004-present).  
Sister Regina Koehler

Sister Regina (Marie Clement) was born in Chicago.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Alverno College, Milwaukee, a master’s degree in Education from Northern Illinois University, and a master’s degree in Reading and Bilingual Education from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. In the Diocese of Rockford, she taught at Mount St. Francis School, Rockford (1967-1971) and at St. Francis School, Freeport (1975-1977). She is a volunteer at Clement Manor in Greenfield, Wisconsin (2013-present).

Sister Peter Julian Werner

Sister Peter Julian was born in Chicago.   She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Alverno College, Milwaukee. In the Diocese of Rockford, she served as a graphic artist at Fine Line Gallery in St. Charles (1987-2011) and now is graphic artist for the School Sisters of St. Francis’ U.S. Province in Milwaukee (2011-present).  

50 Years

Sister Betty Steffensmeier

Sister Betty (Betty Marie) was born in Snyder, Neb. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College, Milwaukee. In the Diocese of Rockford, she served in Rockford as a personal services minister at Maria Linden (1989-1995) and coordinator of personal services at Cor Mariae Center (1995-2000). She is a volunteer at the New Cassel Retirement Center in Omaha, Neb. (2012-present).

Editor’s note: This information was received too late for our jubilee issue in June.