In Memoriam

Help us remember our sisters.

In death we say our ultimate human yes to God. Trusting in God’s power to bring us to the fullness of life, we conclude our earthly life with an act of worship: in the action of death we proclaim God as God, and ourselves as God’s creatures. We are called by God and sent by the community; we go in joy!

- You Are Sent, Constitution of the School Sisters of Notre Dame

In Memoriam: Sister Dorothea Joanne Brigan

Always focused on taking care of others, Joanna is remembered by her Sisters as kind, cheerful, and solicitous of their physical needs, her outgoing and friendly spirit endeared her to the many people she encountered in her 60 plus years as an SSND. May Joanna rest in peace and intercede for us.

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In Memoriam: Sister M.Jean Francis Stenger

In 1949, Sister Jean Francis was assigned to the new mission in Yona on the island of Guam. The first trip involved several airplane mishaps, including having a goonie bird (a type of albatross) fly into one of the propellers.

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In Memoriam: Sister Rosalita McNamee

Two months after her 100th birthday, Sister Rosie said her final yes to God. A native New Yorker, she reminisced about going to the lower East Side in the mid-1930s, where she was inspired by meeting Dorothy Day. Her life long ministry was in helping those with special needs.

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In Memoriam: Sister Jenny VandenBergh

In her junior year of high school, Jenny decided on her vocation, even though she had little contact with SSND outside of religion classes, and she expected a negative reaction from her mother.

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In Memoriam: Beloved Associate and Former SSND Mary Lou Fish

Mary Lou Fish, former Sister and beloved SSND Associate, went home to God on July 4, 2020. She left behind long-lasting memories of the blessing that she was to so many people.

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In Memoriam: Sister Joyce Wittman

Her kindness to the Sisters she transported and companioned to appointments was very much appreciated. In 1995, she served at the Generalate in Rome as driver and sacristan for several months.

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In Memoriam: Sister Sister Joyce Lorentz, SSND

Love Gives Everything was lived by Sister Joyce. A few years ago she wrote, “As a SSND I find strength and courage to live my vows from day-to-day in union with my faithful companions and friends, Jesus and Mary, through listening and openness in prayer.”

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In Memoriam: Sister Bernadette Walsh

Sister Bern touched the lives of many, she was deeply dedicated to ministry in pastoral care and bereavement. One of her innovative ideas was the introduction of pet therapy and she brought Newey and later Romper to Villa Assumpta and they gave comfort and joy to all! Blessed by her presence among us, may her boundless love continue to nurture and inspire us.

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In Memoriam: Sister Joseph Marie Gartner

In her 69 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Joseph Marie always had a compassionate heart and was ready to attend to the needs of others. She was an advocate of faith sharing, and a gifted teacher of music and singing.

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In Memoriam: Sister Emmanuella Rainer

Though she had always wanted to become a nun, her years at IND with the SSNDs were a time when “the seed God had planted in my soul was nourished and grew.”

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In Memoriam

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