Sister Barbara Kober, PHJC, formerly known as Sr. Georgeann, passed away September 7, 2015, at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to George and Ann (Wagner) Kober in Chicago, Illinois on May 26, 1936. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on July 16, 1957.

Sister Barbara began teaching elementary school in 1957 at St. John School in Quincy, Illinois.  She continued to teach until 1975 and served at St. Monica, Mishawaka and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Hammond in Indiana; and St. Boniface, Edwardsville, Illinois.  

She then began serving as a Parish Minister at St. Ansgar, Hanover Park; St. Ann, Lansing; Notre Dame of Chicago and in Macon and Stonington, Illinois.  She also served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Hammond and St. Benedict Terre Haute in Indiana.

Sister Barbara explains her service in Mexico, “In 1988, the Poor Handmaids answered the Holy Spirit’s call to reach out to the Third World countries.  In 1994 I volunteered to serve our mission in Coatzacoalcos, Vera Cruz, Mexico.  I drove our new truck for our Comedor (children’s food program).  I also taught English to adults and college students.” When she returned to the States, Sister Barbara taught English as a second language in Plymouth, Indiana.”

Sister Barbara lived at the Catherine Kasper Home.

May she rest in peace! 

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

Sister Kenneth Scheibal, PHJC, passed away August 10, 2015, at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Joseph and Christine (Kriger) Scheibal in Glen Carbon, Illinois on September 28, 1927. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1950.

Sister Kenneth began a career in education in 1950.  For the next 38 years she served as a teacher and/or principal at schools in Indiana including St. Ann, Black Oak; St. Joseph and St. Monica, Mishawaka; Holy Spirit, Fort Wayne; and St. Catherine of Siena, Hammond. 

In Illinois, Sister Kenneth taught at St. John Orphanage, Belleville; Angel Guardian Orphanage, Chicago; St. Boniface, Germantown; St. John, Quincy; St. Mary and St. Boniface, Edwardsville; St. Anthony, Beckemeyer; St. Joseph and St. Augustine, Chicago; and Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic School, East St. Louis. Following her education ministry, she provided child care, ministry to the homebound, and pastoral care. Sister Kenneth believed it was a privilege to have taught thousands of children over the years.  

Sister Kenneth lived at Catherine Kasper Home. 

May she rest in peace!  

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

Sister Alice Kunkel, PHJC, passed away August 8, 2015, at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to John and Elizabeth (Rolfers) Kunkel in Carlyle, Illinois on July 27, 1921. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1947.

Sister Alice served 18 years as a teacher at St. Joseph, Fort Wayne; St. Bavo and St. Joseph Mishawaka, Indiana and at St. Boniface, Edwardsville and St. Mary, Carlyle, Illinois.  For the next 36 years she ministered in the business office at Convent Ancilla Domini and then served the PHJC Community as a volunteer.  

In reflection on her ministries, Sister Alice said, “After years of teaching, I came to the Motherhouse to work in the Business Office with Sister Symphoria and Sister Hermanda.  I loved the work very much. Besides loving the work and being here, the beautiful chapel was nearby and I found time for visits to the Blessed Sacrament.  It was a time to spend with my God whom I came to serve and love more fully.”

Sister Alice retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2012.

May she rest in peace! 

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

Sister Mary Edward Mason, PHJC, passed away June 19, 2015, at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Edward Leland and Estella Carmel Mason in Quincy, Illinois on July 5, 1922. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1944.

Sister Mary Edward became a teacher in 1944 and taught hundreds of children throughout the years at St. Mark, Gary; St. Ann, Monterey, and St. Mary, East Chicago, in Indiana.  In Illinois, she taught at St. Augustine, Chicago; and St. John, Quincy. Her love of children was evident as a house mother and cottage mother at St. Vincent Villa, a PHJC orphanage in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Angel Guardian Orphanage, Chicago. In 1986 she became a Sister Hostess at St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, Indiana and then served as a pastoral visitor at St. Vincent Home in Quincy, Illinois.

During her 60th jubilee celebration, she said, “My ministry at St. Vincent’s Home is somewhat special since it is only a half block from where I grew up and is in the parish I belonged to before joining the convent. I feel God has given me this ministry at St. Vincent’s Home to prepare for my own retirement years—God willing.”

A little adventurous, Sister Mary Edward’s family gifted her a skydiving experience which she said she would never forget.

Sister Mary Edward retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2006.

May she rest in peace!

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

Sister Barbara Bruns, PHJC passed away March 17, 2015 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Herman and Wilhelmina (Kreke) Bruns in Germantown, Illinois on July 11, 1919. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1940.

Sister Barbara began her long history in education in 1940 at Angel Guardian Orphanage in Chicago. From there she served in many schools as a teacher, principal and sacristan throughout Indiana and Illinois until 2005 when she retired to the Catherine Kasper Home.

During the 65 years, she taught at these Indiana schools: St. Monica and St. Bavo, Mishawaka; St. Ann and St. Mark, Gary; St. Vincent Villa, Holy Spirit and St. Paul, Fort Wayne; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Hammond; and Ancilla High School and College, Donaldson.

In Illinois she ministered at St. Henry and St. Augustine, Chicago; St. John the Baptist, Quincy; St. Anthony, Beckemeyer; St. Mary Convent, Trenton; and Mater Dei High School, Breese.

Sister Barbara wrote, "Most of my life has been spent in a classroom serving students." During these impressionable years, what a blessing it has been for me to lead hearts to our God and minds to knowledge."

Sister Barbara was a poet and wrote many poems for special occasions. Here is one for her special occasion.

Going Home

As I come to the last moment of my life

When my time on earth will be over then,

Be glad God is calling me home,

to join all the souls now in heaven.

Sometime you'll be journeying this way,

It is God's plan for everyone,

should you feel sad then and miss me

cheer up; let a kind deed be done.

This goodness will lift your spirit

As you join with friends you know,

live your life in charity and patience

as God's love your actions show.

Sister Barbara Bruns, PHJC

June 18, 2011

May she rest in peace!

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

Sister Helen Watkins, PHJC, formerly known as Sister Nicholas, passed away December 29, 2014, at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Elmer and E. Jeannette (Kinnett) Watkins in Taylorville, Illinois on September 21, 1934. She entered the Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on July 16, 1959.

Sister Helen ministered in healthcare since 1955 as a nurse, clinical instructor, nurse practitioner, community health coordinator, or in administration at such institutions as St. Elizabeth and St. Anne Hospitals, Chicago; The Center at Donaldson, Donaldson, Indiana; St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, Indiana and Matthew 25 Medical and Dental Clinic, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 

From 1968 to 1970 she spent 19 months in Vietnam caring for refugees and as an adviser.  Previously she reminisced, “The time I spent in Viet Nam was an invaluable experience for me, it was good learning about a different culture, a simpler lifestyle which offered a chance to think, sort things out, and figure out what’s important in life and in nursing.”

In 2009 when she celebrated her 50-year jubilee as a Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ, she wrote, “Although our ministries have changed, we have continued to seek and find new ways to serve the poor, the sick and the children.  I’ve never served in a ministry that I didn’t come to love both the people I served and the people with whom I worked.  With each change I always thought it was the best, only to find the next change was the best.”

Sister Helen retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2012.

May she rest in peace!

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