Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary — 60 years
Sister Mary Ann Hettel is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a Servant of the Holy Heart of Mary. Sister Mary Ann grew up on a farm in the rural midwestern town of Monroeville, Ohio, with her parents and two brothers. As a young woman, she felt the calling to religious life and traveled from Ohio to Batavia to join the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary.
Sister Mary Ann’s ministry was in education as a teacher and administrator in the Dioceses of Joliet, Brooklyn Center, Minn., Silver Spring, Md., and Rockford. After retiring from education, she found fulfillment as a senior companion through Catholic Charities where she visits the elderly and homebound in the Bourbonnais community.
Throughout the years she has served as leader of the United States Province of the SSCM as provincial superior and on countless provincial councils.
Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind. — 75 years
Sister Joan Marie Steigmeyer is celebrating 75 years of consecrated life as a Sister of the Holy Cross.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind. and a master’s degree in religious studies from La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pa.
Sister Joan Marie served in the field of education for 36 years. In the Diocese of Rockford, she served for six years at St. Mary School, Woodstock, and six years as director of religious education at Sacred Heart Parish, Marengo. She also taught in Danville and in Indiana and was director of religious education at St. Mark Parish, Niles, Mich., for 12 years.
In 1989, Sister Joan Marie transitioned to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, serving as a case worker with a foodbank for six years and for 16 years as a probation investigator for the Hamilton County Probation Office. She currently serves in the congregation’s ministry
of prayer.
75 years — Sister Mary Ann Lamping is celebrating 75 years of consecrated life as a Sister of the Holy Cross.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Mary College, Notre Dame, and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Notre Dame. She also completed a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein College.
Sister Mary Ann dedicated 25 years of her ministry to the field of education, including for four years in the Diocese of Rockford at St. Mary School, Woodstock; and at schools in four towns in Indiana.
In 1976, She transitioned to a 15-year ministry as a chaplain in hospitals in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois including in Springfield and Chicago. After volunteering as a tutor in the Adult Education Program of the South Bend Center for the Homeless, she devoted more than 10 years to service to the sisters’ community at the motherhouse in Notre Dame, Ind. There, she currently serves in the ministry of prayer.
School Sisters of St. Francis
Cards for the School Sisters of St. Francis jubilarians may be mailed to:
Sister’s name
ATTN: Jubilee Committee
1515 S. Layton Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53215.
75 years — Sister Clare Korte (Clarenne) is celebrating 75 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
Sister Clare was born in Pierron. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis., and a master’s degree from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn.
In the Diocese of Rockford, Sister Clare taught at Madonna High School in Aurora (1960-1965) and Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford (1965-1975). Sister Clare is retired and ministers through her prayer and presence at Our Lady of the Angels in Greenfield, Wis.
75 years — Sister Barbaralie Stiefermann (Avellino) is celebrating 75 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
Sister Barbaralie was born in Frankenstein, Mo. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis.; a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago in Chicago; and a Ph.D. from Western Colorado University in Gunnison, Colo.
In the Diocese of Rockford, Sister Barbaralie ministered as a campus minister for Northern Illinois University in DeKalb (1976-1987).
70 years — Sister Joelyn Hayes (Laurentian) is celebrating 70 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
Sister Joelyn was born in Evanston. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alverno College, a Master of Arts degree from Marquette University, and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame.
In the Diocese of Rockford, she served at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford as a teacher (1967-1968) and guidance counselor (1968-1972). She served as Provincial for the Mount St. Francis Province of the School Sisters of St. Francis in Rockford (1972-1977). She ministered as director of religious education at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Freeport (1977-1985) and at St. Patrick Parish in St. Charles (1985-2012). She also taught at St. Edward Central Catholic High School in Elgin (2011-2012). Sister Joelyn is retired and ministers through her prayer and presence at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee.
70 years — Sister Joan Korte (Donalyn) is celebrating 70 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
Sister Joan was born in Highland. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Alverno College, and a Master of Science degree from Northern Illinois University.
In the Diocese of Rockford, she taught at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Aurora (1960-2003). She ministered as an adult literacy tutor at Waubonsee College in Aurora (2007-2012) and volunteered at the Dominican Literacy Center in Aurora (2012-2024). Sister Joan now ministers as a retired volunteer in Milwaukee.
70 years — Sister Barbara Niemeyer (Genieve Marie) is celebrating 70 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
Sister Barbara was born in Lynch, Neb. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Alverno College and a Master of Arts degree in special education from Northeastern
Illinois University.
In the Diocese of Rockford, she taught at St. Joseph School in Elgin (1986-1991), and at Summit Inc. in Dundee (1996-2005). She also ministered as a reading teacher at Elgin Area School District U46 (2005-2012) and served as a Wilson Language System private tutor in Elgin (2012-2016). Sister Barbara currently ministers as a retired volunteer at Clement Manor in Greenfield, Wis.
60 years — Sister Ruth Ann Iwanski is celebrating 60 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
Sister Ruth Ann was born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alverno College, a Master of Arts degree from Webster College, and a Master of Arts degree from Texas
Woman’s University.
In the Diocese of Rockford, she served at St. Francis School for Developmentally Disabled Children in Freeport as a consultant for adapted physical education, recreation therapy and research (1976-1984), and as administrator of the school (1984-1996). Sister Ruth Ann currently ministers as personal services coordinator for sisters living at Maria Linden Apartments in Milwaukee.
50 Years — Sister Maureen McCarthy (Paul Maureen) is celebrating 50 years of consecrated life as a School Sister of St. Francis.
She was born in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alverno College, and a master’s degree in religious education from Mundelein College.
In the Diocese of Rockford, Sister Maureen was a teacher at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Freeport (1968-1972) and at Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford (1975-1976). Sister Maureen currently ministers as a spiritual director in Milwaukee.
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
To honor these sisters, visit sinsinawa.org/jubilee online.
80 years — Sister Marie Celeste Gatti celebrates 80 years of religious life as a Sinsinawa Dominican.
Born in Washington, D.C., she earned her Bachelor of Arts in math from Rosary College, River Forest; her Master of Science in math from the University of Illinois-Champaign; and a certificate in Canon Law pertaining to religious life from St. Xavier College, Chicago.
Her ministry has been dedicated to teaching and educational administration. In Illinois, she taught in Oak Park, Chicago, and River Forest. She served as principal and teacher at Aquin Central Catholic High School, Freeport, and at Central Catholic High School, Bloomington. In Wisconsin, Sister Marie Celeste served her congregation as director of secondary schools, secretary of the congregation, and grant writer. In Florida, she served as executive director of Hope Rural School, Indiantown. Sister Marie Celeste currently resides in Racine, Wis.
80 years — Sister Claire McCaslin (Marie Edward) celebrates 80 years of religious life as a Sinsinawa Dominican.
Born in Omaha, Neb., she received her Bachelor of Arts in education from Edgewood College, Madison, Wis., and a Master of Arts from the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
Sister Claire’s ministry has been dedicated to teaching, educational administration, and providing low-income housing for seniors. In Illinois, she taught in Chicago and Northfield and in the Diocese of Rockford at St. Thomas Aquinas School, Freeport. She taught also in Madison and Wauwatosa, Wis., Minneapolis, Minn., and South Sioux City, Neb.
After working in schools for 37 years, she became administrator of St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque, Ia., for five years, then moved to Omaha, Neb., and was manager of low-income housing at Holy Name Housing Corporation for nearly 30 years until her retirement in 2016. She currently resides in Racine, Wis.
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
70 years — Sister Janet Delperdang celebrates her 70th jubilee as a Sinsinawa Dominican.
Born in LeMars, Ia., she made profession with the Sisters of Christian Charity in 1955 and received the religious name Sister Janet. In 1975, she transferred to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.
She received a Bachelor of Science in elementary education and an Master of Education in school administration from De Paul University, Chicago.
Sister Janet’s ministry has been dedicated to teaching, educational administration, and pastoral care. As a Dominican, she taught in the Diocese of Rockford at St. Patrick School, Rockford. She also taught and/or was principal at schools in Mobile, Ala., Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va. She then served as director of religious education at St. Regina Parish,
Parsons, Tenn. Sister Janet was also a pastoral caregiver at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. She currently ministers as a volunteer and resides in
New Berlin, Wis.
70 years — Sister Virginia Helmann (John Matha) celebrates her 70th jubilee as a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa.
Born in Portage, Wis., she earned her Bachelor of Arts in primary education from Edgewood College, Madison, Wis.
Sister Virginia’s ministry has been dedicated to teaching, including in Chicago, Kewaunee, and Bloomington, and in Minnesota, New York City, and Madison, Wis. In the Rockford Diocese, she taught at Nativity BVM
School, Menominee.
She provided spiritual direction at St. Joseph Prayer Center in Kings Park and tutored at Our Lady of Mercy School in the Bronx, N.Y., and ministered at Altheia School of Prayer there. Sister Virginia served as holistic health therapist at the
Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, and currently resides at Sinsinawa.
70 years — Sister Judith Lund (Mary Domenico) celebrates her 70th Jubilee as a Sinsinawa
Dominican.
Born in Wausau, Wis., she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Portland, Ore., and Master of Arts in English from Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
Sister Judith’s ministry has been dedicated to teaching. In Illinois, she taught at St. James School, Rockford and at schools in Chicago; Burbank and Bloomington, where she also served as principal. Elsewhere, she taught in Dallas, Tex.; Sioux Falls, S.D., and Madison, Wis. She served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as vicaress provincial of the Southwest Province and as consultant.
Sister Judith currently teaches at St. Matthew School, Kalispell, Mont., where she also volunteers for Sparrow’s Nest, a home for teenagers experiencing homelessness.
60 years — Sister Marie Anna Stelmach (Rose de Lima) celebrates her 60th jubilee as a Sinsinawa Dominican.
Born in Baltimore, Md., she earned a Bachelor of Arts in math and theology from Rosary College (now Dominican University), River Forest; a Master of Divinity from Immaculate Conception Seminary, Mahwah, N.J.; a Master of Arts in in theology from Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.; and an RN from Bon Secours Memorial School of Nursing, Richmond, Va.
Her ministry has been dedicated to teaching, pastoral care, missionary work, and health care.
She taught in Chicago, Los Angeles, Calif,, Sheboygan, Wis., Bronx, N.Y. She served as a missionary in the Diocese of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and in the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Sister Marie Anna served as director of religious education at St. Patrick Parish, Rockford; at Sacred Heart Parish, Washington, D.C.; and for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, La.
She ministered as a Clinical Pastoral Education resident at Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii; was a chaplain at St. John’s Medical Center, Longview, Wash.; and was director of chaplaincy at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Knoxville, Tenn.
She then worked for the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons in the medical center in Lexington, Ky., and the camp in Morgantown, W.V., as chaplain and as director of the department.
Sister Marie Anna then worked in parish ministry in Bethesda, Md.; was director of prison ministry at Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association, Washington, D.C.; and was a medical/surgical/hospice RN with Bon Secours Health System, Richmond, Va. She also served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as an RN at the motherhouse in Sinsinawa, Wis. She currently volunteers as an RN for the Dominican Sisters at Stair Crest in Muskego, Wis., where she also resides.
Thank you, Sisters, for your faithful service!
