May 3, 1913 - February 3, 2006

Sister Marien Plotzke, PHJC passed away on February 3, 2006 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Ottilia Plotzke to Joseph and Maria Plotzke in Hammond, Indiana on May 3, 1913. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1934.

Sister Marien began her ministry as a teacher in 1934 at St. Boniface School in Germantown, Illinois. From there she served in various hospital business offices in Indiana and Illinois, as well as serving as the Poor Handmaid Treasurer and as Local Leader of Convent Ancilla Domini. After serving as a hostess at Lindenwood Retreat and Conference Center, Sister Marien retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 1993. Sister Marien continued to serve after retirement for over 10 years. She was the proofreader for the PHJC Communications Office.

May she rest in peace!

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

December 27, 2005

On December 27, 2005, Quincy Associate Harold Stark passed away following a brief illness. He became an Associate in 1991. Harold served on the Associate/Sister Advisory Board for two years in 1995–1996. Harold’s surviving family includes four sons and a daughter, eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Harold was 76 years old. His Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Mary Catholic Church in Quincy, Illinois.

May he rest in peace.

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

March 24, 1916 - December 13, 2005

Sister Ethel Yuha, PHJC passed away on December 13, 2005 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Helen Yuha to Michael and Magdalen Yuha on March 24, 1916 in Gary, Indiana. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1936.

Sister Ethel ministered for 57 years as a teacher, principal or librarian at several school in Indiana and Illinois. She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2001, after serving as a volunteer librarian in the Avita Library at the Motherhouse in Donaldson.

May she rest in peace!

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

December 9, 2005

On December 9, 2005, Associate Vione (Vi) Kelly passed away in the Catherine Kasper Life Center. Among her survivors are three sisters: Mrs. Catherine Flood; and two Poor Handmaid Sisters, Sisters Margaret Hanon and Mary Boby. Vi and her husband, now deceased, had six children. They raised their family in Griffith, Indiana, and then Vi moved to Maria Center after her husband died. Along with raising her family, Vi taught high school Latin and English for 39 years. Vione became an Associate in 1984. Among her many contributions as an Associate, she served for two years on the Associate/Sister Advisory Board in 1989 and 1990. Vione was 90 years old.

May she rest in peace.

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

October 3, 1906 - November 11, 2005

Sister Maureen Freihage, PHJC passed away on November 11, 2005 at Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Irene Freihage to Peter and Angeline Freihage on September 3, 1906 in Chicago. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1942.

Sister Maureen ministered in administration at various hospitals in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana beginning in 1941. She also served as Local Leader of Convent Ancilla Domini and as Provincial Secretary before retiring to the Catherine Kasper Home in 1987.

May she rest in peace!

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

October 16, 1914 - September 16, 2005

Sister Lucia Constantino, PHJC passed away on September 16, 2005 at Catherine Kasper Home in Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Anna Constantino on October 16, 1914 to Antonio and Lucia Constantino in what is now Skokie, Illinois. She was the second oldest of four children.

She entered the novitiate of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Congregation on June 25, 1946 and took her final vows on June 24, 1953. Sister Lucia ministered as a nurse for almost 30 years—sixteen of those as a pediatric nurse, which she loved. After retiring as a nurse she continued to work at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago as a library assistant and as a volunteer in the surgical waiting room. She retired to Catherine Kasper Home in 1999.

May she rest in peace!

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