Jutta Maria Wiegard was born on September 2, 1925, in Leignitz, Germany, the second child and first daughter of Carl Wiegard and Maria Kowalski. Her parents ran a grocery store there, until, at the request of relatives, the family moved to Chicago. There the relatives called the 9-month-old baby Julie, and that became her name thereafter.
The family settled in the German parish of St. Alphonsus, Chicago, where Julie’s sister was born in 1933. Julie attended St. Alphonsus Grade School for her elementary education. In her autobiography, Julie remembered that “During my entire school days at Saint Alphonsus my greatest joy was to stay each evening after school to help Sister clean the room. It seemed I just felt happier being with the Sisters.”
Upon graduation from St. Alphonsus, Julie received her parents’ permission to enter the aspiranture at the Academy of Our Lady, Longwood (Chicago). After two years in the aspiranture, she entered the candidature in Milwaukee on September 2, 1941, her sixteenth birthday. She wrote, “I was rather reluctant to leave at this time since my Father was very ill with tuberculosis. Approximately a week later I was called home, for my Father had died. I remained at home for a week when Mother made it clear to me that I was not to stay home to care for her, and that if I wished to return I should do so, which I did.”
Julie was received into the novitiate on August 4, 1943, receiving the name Sister Joachim Marie. She was professed on August 5, 1944. Her first obedience sent her to teach first grade in Chippewa Falls, WI. She later taught and was principal at several other schools in Wisconsin and Illinois, including St. Joachim in Pittsville, WI, and St. Margaret of Scotland, Chicago; St. Anne, Dixon; St. Bernadette, Rockford; and St. James, Highwood, all in Illinois. She particularly enjoyed the excitement of first graders as they discovered the world around them. Julie was noted, too, as an innovative principal, eager to try new projects and ways of organizing a school program.
Julie received a B.A. in Education from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, in 1959, and a Master of Education in Administration from De Paul University, Chicago, in 1968.
Due to an unexpected legal oversight, Julie was surprised to find that she had not been naturalized as a U.S. citizen as an infant, and received her naturalization papers in Chicago in 1967.
After a year of preparation in 1980-1981, Julie became the postulants’ director for the Chicago province. In addition, from 1981 to 1985, Julie served in pastoral care at St. Joseph the Worker in Wheeling, IL. In her file, there is included the following short article of thanks to her as she left the position of Ministry of Care:
Farewell to the Bag Lady of S.J.W.
One often saw her in a glance, for she darted about like a rabbit in a field,
scurrying here and there and everywhere.
In her arms she always carried a bag, or two, or three or four—
food for the hungry—clothes for the poor—
and if you asked her “could she?”—she would always answer “fer shurrr!”
On the door of her office there is nailed a plaque that says “Department of sunshine and rainbows.”
She brought so much color and laughter and joy into people’s lives.
For such a small munchkin, she was sure a bundle of joy!
We will miss you “bag lady!”
In the summer of 1982, Julie participated in the Global Apostolic Awareness Program (GAAP) offered by SSND. She spent four weeks in Honduras, and later reflected, “You might ask me how was my consciousness raised by this experience? My response would be, my consciousness wasn’t raised, it was lowered. What I knew in my head was moved down to my heart.” The experience deepened her already intense care for people, in whatever situation.
In 1985, Julie moved into the position of novice directress, in St. Louis, MO, where she served for three years. Her interest in and care for her own Sisters led Julie to service as Local Leader for retired Sisters at St. Benedict Convent and the Academy of Our Lady, both in Chicago, from 1990 to 2001. She also served as Nursing Home Advocate and in Community Service at Resurrection Life Center, Chicago; and Marian Village, Homer Glen, IL.
Sister Julie died on December 28, 2017, at Resurrection Life Center, Chicago. Visitation and a wake service were held on January 2 at Resurrection Life Center. Visitation, a wake service, and the Mass of Christian Burial were held at Marian Village on January 3, followed by interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, IL.
