Sister Cabrini Ganz, SSND
January 19, 1921 – January 31, 2026
Olive Ganz was born to Italia Augusta and John Ganz on January 19, 1921, in Falcade, a town located in the Province of Belluno, Northern Italy. Her parents were married in St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sicily. Her mother, Italia, had been a refugee as a child when war forced her to leave her home. Olive lived in Falcade with her mother and older sister, Grace, until the family relocated to America.
In 1920, her father moved to America to work. She saw him for the first time when she was three years old, when he returned home to bring his family to America. The family settled in Chicago, Illinois, and rented a home near Saints Peter and Paul Parish. They then moved to St. Margaret’s Parish in Chicago, where she went to school and met the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND). In high school, she attended the Academy of Our Lady in Chicago. During this time, four siblings joined the family, including brothers Gration and Reno. Before Reno was born, the family welcomed Catherine, who passed away at the age of two. The family would later welcome a fourth sister, who was named Catherine in her memory.
Olive entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1938 and was received on July 16, 1940. She professed on July 17, 1941, taking the religious name Cabrini. In 1941, Sister Cabrini was assigned to teach second grade at St. Alphonsus School. Following that, she taught kindergarten at St. Michael’s in Chicago for two years. A talented artist, she was sent to do artwork at the Motherhouse in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Sister Barbara Bowers spoke at Cabrini’s wake, recounting how during her 85 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame, Cabrini went wherever she was sent. Her degree was in art, but she was only missioned to do art for the congregation three times. In addition to those missions, she served in a variety of roles teaching and housekeeping at Holy Angels in Gary, Indiana; St. Leo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (WI); at Visitation in Elm Grove, WI; at Santa Maria in Chicago, Illinois (IL); at St. Nicholas in Freedom, WI; at St. Henry in Rosebush, Michigan; at Notre Dame of the Lake in Mequon, WI; at St. Paul in Chicago, IL; at the Motherhouse in Dekalb, IL; at the Academy of Our Lady Convent in Chicago, IL; at the Generalate in Rome, Italy; at Marian Village in Homer Glen, IL; and at Resurrection Retirement Community, in Chicago, IL.
Cabrini called Sister Nadine (then provincial of the Chicago Province) at six o’clock in the morning to volunteer for Rome. Her time in Rome marked a change in Cabrini. At the Generalate, she was back at home. While serving at the Generalate, she worked as a receptionist, answering the phone, and spoke Italian well. She enjoyed traveling around Rome and visiting churches, museums, and parks. In her autobiography, she noted that she was fortunate to see three Popes and that she saw Pope John Paul II many times. Cabrini stayed at the Generalate until December 2, 1987. Upon her return to America, she worked in the laundry at the Academy of Our Lady (Chicago).
In her remarks during her wake service, Cabrini’s niece Rita shared memories of Cabrini’s fondness for “knock-knock” jokes and “She loved her own jokes.” Cabrini was also fond of games like Go Fish, Chinese Checkers, and Parcheesi, and she often won. Rita recounted a time when she was visiting Cabrini and her Sisters at Resurrection Life and found her playing and winning games. When asked how Cabrini managed to win so often, one of the Sisters playing with her said, “That’s because she cheated!” Rita also said how much Cabrini loved being a School Sister of Notre Dame and held on to her veil for a very long time as a physical reminder of her vows. She loved her veil and only removed it recently.
Cabrini was born into eternal life at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago on January 31, 2026. Visitation and Mass of Resurrection were held at Marian Village in Homer Glen, IL, on February 7, 2026. Mass was celebrated by Rev. Thomas Schrader, O. Carm. Cabrini’s nieces used their musical and public-speaking skills to honor their aunt at her funeral. In addition to Rita’s comments during the wake, Doris played music for the Mass, and Sister Maureen Clancy proclaimed the readings. Burial immediately followed the service at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
By Sister Charlaine Fill, SSND and Lauren Ciotti
