In Memory of Sister Jeanette Schutte, PHJC

June 03, 2013

February 9, 1924 - June 3, 2013

Sister Jeanette Schutte, PHJC, passed away on June 3, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was born to Walter and Bertha Schutte in Quincy, IL on February 9, 1924. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1945.

Sister Jeanette touched the lives of many people throughout her life. Between 1945 and 1962 she taught school in Chicago and East Chicago and Gary, Indiana.

In 1962 she became the Postulant Director for the Poor Handmaids. In 1969 she returned to teaching and was principal for the next four years in schools in Carlyle and Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

From 1973 – 1979 Sister Jeanette was a Provincial Team Member and served the Poor Handmaid community. From 1979 to 1997 she ministered in Richmond Minnesota, and at St. Mary’s School and St. Boniface in Edwardsville, Illinois. Since 1997, Sr. Jeanette has served the poor and hungry in Cairo, Illinois at The Kitchen Table, a soup kitchen run by the Belleville Diocese.

Sister Jeanette had said, “Through all my ministries, my mission has been the same; namely, to receive and to share God’s love and compassion. Many, many persons I have met on my journey have shown me the face of Christ by their steadfast faith and by the joy of their daily lives.”

May Sister Jeanette rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Johnel Kunkel, PHJC

May 20, 2013

April 26, 1916 - May 19, 2013

Sister Johnel Kunkel, PHJC, passed away on May 19, 2013 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to John and Elizabeth (Rolfers) Kunkel in Carlyle, Illinois on April 26, 1916. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1945.

Sister Johnel began her ministry in education in 1945, teaching at various schools in Quincy, Chicago and Breese, Illinois and Gary and Donaldson, Indiana. In 1988 she began her 15-year ministry at Ancilla College as Dean of the College transitioning in 1995 to become Special Assistant to the President until 2003. She states, “As a Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ I had the opportunity, the privilege and the pleasure to help many students and their families to grow closer to God in their daily lives and also to become better educated. Helping others has indeed been a blessing for me.” She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2008 at the age of 92.

Sister Johnel celebrated her 60th Jubilee in 2005. In her Jubilee reflection she states, “My hopes and dreams and my prayers will continue, as in the past, for my own future and that of the Poor Handmaid congregation. I place all in the hands of God and Blessed Mary Catherine Kasper. Our dreams have materialized in the beatification of our foundress. I hope the future will bring her canonization since the community she founded is now an international community.”

May Sister Johnel rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Lucille Ardelean, PHJC

May 14, 2013

October 13, 1918 - May 12, 2013

Sister Lucille Ardelean, PHJC, passed away on May 12, 2013 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to George and Mary (Estrovan) Ardelean in East Chicago, Indiana on October 13, 1918. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1939.

Sister Lucille began teaching at St. Patrick’s School (Arcola, Indiana) in 1939. She continued teaching for the next 50 years at various schools in Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota. Her next ministry was in pastoral care. For seven years, she was able to bring much happiness and care to the elderly and ill in the parish and nursing home in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2009 at the age of 91.

Sister Lucille celebrated her 70th Jubilee in 2009. In her Jubilee reflection she states, “The greatest joy of my Jubilee year is to continue my lifelong love and following of the Blessed Mother and Blessed Catherine Kasper in helping others as much as I can as long as God grants me the good health to do so.”

May Sister Lucille rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Judian Breitenbach, PHJC

March 14, 2013

October 22, 1930- March 7, 2013

Sister Judian Breitenbach, PHJC, 82, died March 7, 2013 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Mary Gertrude Breitenbach to Aloysius John and Augusta Catherine (Daniel) Breitenbach in LaPorte, Indiana.

In 1950 she entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ congregation in Donaldson, Indiana and professed first vows on July 25, 1952.

A graduate of Ancilla College, Donaldson and St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Loyola University, Chicago and her Masters of Science Degree in Nursing and a Minor in Nursing Administration from Marquette University, Milwaukee.

For 25 years she was involved in the nursing profession eventually going into nursing administration and management in various PHJC hospitals. In 1979 she was appointed Administrator of the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson. In 1983 she was appointed chairperson of the Board of Directors for Ancilla Systems Incorporated, the Poor Handmaid hospital healthcare system. In 1990 she returned to Donaldson and was appointed the Administrator of the PHJC Ministry Center. After completing her ministry at the ministry center, she pursued her interest in holistic healing.

Sister Judian worked with the ideas of Deepak Chopra, MD and others, and became the Executive Director of the Healing Arts Center in Mishawka, IN. She then became a consultant for Pastoral Care and Complementary Healing at LaPorte Hospital Health Services. In 2002 Sister Judian opened the Namaste Center where she was committed to the wellness and healing of individuals and an advocate for holistic healing. In addition to her ministry at Namaste Center, she was currently the chairperson of Sojourner Truth House Board in Gary, IN.

She was a member of the Rotary Club and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International in 2012 and was named one of the interesting people in the Michiana Area by the Executive Journal.

Sister Judian is survived by her brothers, Brother Clarence Breitenbach, CSC of Notre Dame, Indiana and Leo (Jackie) Breitenbach of Valparaiso, Indiana and her sister Lauretta (Kenneth) Hanson of LaPorte.

Burial was Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Donaldson on March 11, 2013.

Memorial donations may be made to the Namasté Center, 1402 Lincolnway, LaPorte, IN 46350 or to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46531.

In Memory of Sister Jude Henken, PHJC

February 01, 2013

October 18, 1924 - February 1, 2013

Sister Jude Henken, PHJC passed away on February 1, 2013 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Gerhard Henry and Bernadine (Timmermann) Henken in Germantown, Illinois on October 18, 1924. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1946.

Sister Jude’s first ministry was as a 4th grade teacher at St. Mary’s School in East Chicago, IN and then as a childcare provider at St. John’s in Belleville, IL. In 1948 she began a new ministry in food service where she worked for the next 51 years at several locations. Prior to retiring to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2005, she provided services to the PHJC community.

A few years ago, when asked what does being a Poor Handmaid mean to you, Sr. Jude answered, “Having the privilege and obligation to live prayerfully, joyfully, and simply in order to praise God and thereby attract others to serve Him in their vocation.”

May Sister Jude rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Maris Krimmel, PHJC

November 12, 2012

March 8, 1911 - November 10, 2012

Sister Maris Krimmel, PHJC passed away on November 10, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to William and Theresa Rose (Wohnhas) Krimmel in Chicago, Illinois on March 8, 1911. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1935.

Sister Maris taught grade school and high school from 1933 to 1975 at which time she began work as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. She returned to teaching in 1978. In 1984 she became a teacher’s aid and then a volunteer at Ancilla College. For many years she tutored college students on computers.

Sister Maris stated, “I was asked to help the computer students at Ancilla College. Having ‘retired’ this was a most wonderful 20 years, learning new skills and participating in the progress of this new technology.”

She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2007 at the age of 96 where she continued to enjoy working on her computer.

May Sister Maris rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Bernice Buescher, PHJC

November 05, 2012

January 26, 1915 - November 2, 2012

Sister Bernice Buescher, PHJC, passed away on November 2, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Frederick and Anna Marie (Bender) Buescher in Avila, Indiana on January 26, 1915. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 6, 1937.

Sister Bernice, then known as Sister Leo, began teaching at Angel Guardian Orphanage in 1939. She continued teaching for the next 26 years at various schools in Indiana and Illinois. When class sizes reached 60 or more children, she asked for a new ministry. In 1965 she began working as an office clerk in PHJC hospitals, in schools and in the Business Office at the PHJC Ministry Center. She retired in 1999.

Sr. Bernice celebrated her 75th Jubilee in 2012. In her Jubilee reflection she states, “The greatest enjoyment of Jubilee year will be to hope everything we do to celebrate will be pleasing to Jesus and Mary. I hope God will guide and bless the activities of the PHJC community in the U.S., Mexico, India, England, Netherlands, Germany, Brazil and Africa.”

May Sister Bernice rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Loving Memory of Sister Longinia Pobiedzinski, PHJC

October 08, 2012

April 27,  1914 - October 8, 2012

Sister Longinia Pobiedzinski, PHJC passed away on October 8, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Casimir and Sabina (Baranowski) Pobiedzinski in Mishawaka, Indiana on April 27, 1914. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1933.

In 1933 Sister Longinia began her long teaching career. For the next 56 years she taught in schools in Illinois and Indiana, including Ancilla Domini High School and College for 34 of those years.  She also served the PHJC Community as Local Leader and Sacristan.  She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 1998.

Sr. Longinia enjoyed many activities throughout the years.  She shared that she was thankful for the gift of education, for work and leisure, and for the many creative opportunities related to her teaching assignments.

May Sister Longinia rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Bertram Boeving, PHJC

July 03, 2012

October 14, 1928 - July 2, 2012

Sister Bertram Boeving, PHJC, passed away on July 2, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to William and Bertha Boeving in St. Louis, Missouri on October 14, 1928. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1949 along with her sister, Sister Wilma Boeving, PHJC.

Sister Bertram began ministering in healthcare in 1952. She was as a pediatric and OB nurse and administrator in several hospitals in Indiana and Illinois. Twenty years later she changed ministry and served in pastoral care at a number of facilities. Sister Bertram also served as Local Leader at Convent Ancilla Domini and served the PHJC community.

In a reflection written for her 50-year jubilee, Sister Bertram states, “Whether success or failure, in fulfilling expectations or not, depends on your purpose in life. To me, there is no failure when I do it for the love of God.”

May Sister Bertram rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

In Memory of Sister Cecile Wisman, PHJC

March 29, 2012

January 15, 1917 - March 29, 2012

Sister Cecile Wisman, PHJC, passed away on March 29, 2012 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to John and Catherine Wisman in Quincy, Illinois on January 15, 1917. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1946.

Sister Cecile began ministering as a teacher in 1945. For the next 32 years she taught in Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana and was the organist at several of the schools. For the next 24 years she served at Ancilla College in Donaldson as the Business Office Manager or as a volunteer. She retired in 2001.

May Sister Cecile rest in peace!

Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.