
Latest News

March 4, 1916 - June 7, 2006
Sister Rose Marie Kalil, PHJC passed away on June 7, 2006 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born to Sam and Lillian Kalil on March 4, 1916 in Mishawaka, Indiana. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 25, 1936.
For 36 years Sister Rose Marie took care of children at three Poor Handmaid orphanages in Illinois and Indiana. Her other ministries included nurses aide, director of a retirement home and a receptionist.She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 1995. Sister Rose Marie was celebrating her 70-year jubilee this year.
May she rest in peace!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

September 20, 1913 - June 7, 2006
Sister Ruth Schroeder, PHJC passed away on June 7, 2006 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Anna Schroeder to John Francis and Emily Ann Schroeder on September 20, 1913. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and took her first vows on June 25, 1931. Sister Ruth was celebrating her 75th jubilee this year.
Sister Ruth loved children and taught for over forty years. Along with teaching, she was also the organist at several ministries. She retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 1993.
May she rest in peace!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.
Download the Summer edition of Word Gathering (Volume 27 No. 2)

May 12, 2006
Anne Ryan passed away on May 12, 2006 in Plymouth. She was a resident of Catherine Kasper Home. Anne became an Associate in 1991. This year marks her 15th year as a PHJC Associate. Anne is survived by one sister from Illinois and several nieces and nephews. Originally from Knox, Indiana, Anne lived many years in Maria Center before moving to the Catherine Kasper Home. She 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.
March 23, 2006
Ann Marie Lindsey passed away on March 23, 2006 in Chicago. Ann became an Associate in 1991. Funeral services were in Chicago and a Mass of Christian Burial was held at her parish, St. Daniel the Prophet Church, on March 27, 2006. Along with being a PHJC Associate, Ann also was a member of St. Ignatius Mothers’ Club and the Glenola Club. Ann is survived by two sons, five grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Ann was also a sister of the late Rose Fox, also an Associate.
May she rest in peace.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.

August 15, 1927 - March 4, 2006
Sister Stella Quitmeyer, PHJC, passed away on March 4, 2006 at Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Mary Louise Quitmeyer to Joseph and Ida Quitmeyer on August 15, 1927 in Trenton, Illinois. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community and professed her first vows on June 26, 1948.
For 22 years she ministered at Angel Guardian Orphanage, Chicago and St. John’s Orphanage, Belleville, Illinois. She also served in various positions at St. Anne’s Hospital, Chicago and at Meredith Home, Belleville as Program Director. Sister Stella retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 1993.
May she rest in peace!
Memorial contributions may be made to the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, PO Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513.
Download the Spring edition of Word Gathering (Volume 27 No. 1)

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.
Download the Winter edition of Word Gathering (Volume 26 No. 3)

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.

March 26, 1917 - July 21, 2005
Sister Anne Fox, PHJC passed away July 21, 2005 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson, Indiana. She was born Mary Margaret Fox to Louis Nicholas and Anna Mueller Fox on March 26, 1917. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community on June 26, 1937 and took her final vows on June 24, 1944.
Sister Anne started teaching in 1940 and taught in various schools in Illinois, Minnesota and Indiana. She continued to tutor even after retirement She moved to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2004.
May she rest in peace!

November 19, 1918 - July 6, 2005
Sister Richard Mehal, PHJC passed away on July 6, 2005 at the Catherine Kasper Home, Donaldson Indiana. She was born Helen Mehal on November 19, 1918 to George and Mary Mehal in Dunlo, Pennsylvania. She entered the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ community on June 24, 1937 and took her final vows on June 24, 1944.
Sister Richard ministered in education for 54 years at various schools in Indiana and Illinois. She also served as sacristan at St. Mary Parish, Trenton, Illinois until she retired to the Catherine Kasper Home in 2000.
May she rest in peace!
Download the Summer edition of Word Gathering (Volume 26 No. 1)