Sister Obituaries

Sister Virginia (Angelique) Kinsella, OP, died Feb. 14, 2023. Professed in 1959, she taught in the following schools: Sacred Heart, Washington, DC; St. Mary, Piscataway, MD; St. Thomas Aquinas, Freeport, IL; St. Richard, Chicago; St. John Vianney, Janesville, WI; St. Joseph, Baraboo, WI; St. Bernard, Wauwatosa, WI; St. Rose of Lima, Milwaukee; Sacred Heart, Reedsburg, WI; St. Thomas More, Chicago; St. John de la Salle, Chicago; and Academy of St. Benedict the African, Chicago. Sr. Virginia served as principal at St. Mary, Portage, WI, and St. Louis, Caledonia, WI. She ministered at Alexian Brothers Medical Center and Home Health, Elk Grove Village, IL, as chaplain; at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque, IA, in pastoral care; and at the Motherhouse as family caregiver and support staff. She was a private person, curious about the world, and went about her service in a caring and committed way. May she rest in peace. Click here to send a memorial online.

Sister Betty (Erneste) Smith, OP, died Feb. 11, 2023. Professed in 1959, she served in the culinary arts at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa, WI; and Queen of Peace Convent, Burbank, IL. Sr. Betty then worked with the Head Start program at Holy Name School, Kansas City, MO, and taught at St. Martin de Porres, Columbia, SC; Sacred Heart, Washington, DC; and St. Paul of the Cross, Atlanta, GA. She ministered as chaplain at Providence Hospital, Columbia, SC; St. Elizabeth Campus Hospital, Washington, DC; and Manor Care Health Services, Silver Spring, MD, and in pastoral care at St. Peter Inter-Parish School, Washington, DC; and the Motherhouse. Sr. Betty served as parish visitor, after school director, and taught 2nd grade at Annunciation School, Washington, DC; and as support staff, parish visitor, and social studies teacher at Little Flower School, Bethesda, MD. She loved people and shared her faith day by day with all whom she encountered. May she rest in peace. Click here to send a memorial online.

Sister Janette (Juditha) Wicker, OP, died Jan. 29, 2023. Professed in 1954, she taught at St. Cajetan, Chicago, and served as principal or coprincipal at the following schools: St. Anne, Wausau, WI; Annunciation, Green Bay, WI; St. Peter, Oshkosh, WI, where she also taught in the Learning Center; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, East Dubuque, IL; and St. Joseph, Sturgeon Bay, WI. Sr. Janette ministered as religion coordinator at St. Mary-St. Joseph Parishes, Appleton, WI; parish liturgist at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, East Dubuque; pastoral associate at St. Joseph Parish and SS. Peter and Paul Parish, both Sturgeon Bay, WI; and librarian at the Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. Sr. Janette loved to be around people. Her attention to detail, sense of humor, and generous spirit have made the world a better place. May she rest in peace. Click here to send a memorial online.

Sister Catherine Thomas Dwyer, OP, died Jan. 27, 2023. Professed in 1954, she taught in the following schools: St. Rose of Lima, Baltimore, MD; Annunciation, Green Bay, WI; Resurrection, Minneapolis; St. Martin, Oklahoma City, OK; Sacred Heart, Omaha, NE; St. Lawrence, Faribault, MN; St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis; Incarnation, Minneapolis; Regina, Minneapolis; St. Michael, West St. Paul, MN; and St. Rose of Lima, Roseville, MN. Sr. Catherine Thomas served as principal at Little Flower, Billings, MT, and Sacred Heart, Reedsburg, WI. She was an administrative assistant in the Archdiocesan Education Office for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Sr. Catherine Thomas loved her Irish heritage and big family. She skillfully taught elementary, middle, and secondary education, passing  on knowledge and inserting humor along the way. May she rest in peace. Click here to send a memorial online.

Sister Joris Binder, OP, died Jan. 22, 2023. Professed in 1958, she taught in the following schools: St. James, Rockford, IL; Holy Mother of Consolation, Oregon, WI; St. Philip the Apostle, Northfield, IL, where she also served as counselor; Queen of Peace, Madison, WI, where she also served as unit coordinator; and Holy Trinity, Bloomington, IL, where she also served as unit coordinator and principal. At the University of Notre Dame, Sr. Joris ministered as assistant rector of Lewis Hall, rector of Pasquerilla East Hall, and codirector of Hesburgh Sabbatical Program (now Hesburgh Renewal Program), which later moved to Catholic Theological Union in Chicago with her continuing as codirector. She served the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa Congregation as prioress of the St. Clara Community at the Motherhouse,  Sinsinawa; family caregiver at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, WI; and consultant for state funded supportive home care while at the Motherhouse. Sr. Joris ministered as a pastoral counselor at St. Margaret Center, Mishawaka, IN. She was known for her gracious, kind, and welcoming presence. Sr. Joris understood the importance of being heard. May she rest in peace. Click here to send a memorial online.