2025 Jubilarians

Ann Therese Chaput, BVM was born on Feb. 7, 1950, in Evanston, Ill., the daughter of Joseph Francis and Patricia Ann Furman Chaput. She was the first of six children.  Ann’s early life in the Chicago area helped shape her deep connection to faith and community.

She attended Queen of All Saints Elementary School in Chicago for a few years and then St. Francis Xavier Elementary School in Wilmette before graduating from Regina Dominican High School. She went on to earn a B.A. in Theology from Loyola University Chicago in 1972, followed by an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola in 1975. In 1982, she earned a Certificate in Administration from DePaul University. While serving as principal at St. Mary of the Lake in Chicago, she studied/earned an M.A. in Religious Studies from Mundelein College.

Ann’s vocational journey unfolded over several decades. After completing college in just three years, she was missioned to the West Indies in 1971, where she lived and worked in a remote area of Jamaica. Upon returning to the United States, she taught high school theology while working on her graduate studies. During this time, fellow teachers recognized her gifts for leadership and mission, and she was invited to serve as the first Mission Education Coordinator for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. For five years, she traveled to parish schools, organized World Mission Sunday events, led faculty retreats, and helped connect students and teachers to the wider church mission.

In 1980, she joined the Comboni Missionary Sisters, an international missionary community with its U.S. site in Richmond, Va. She was one of only five Americans in the congregation. Though deeply committed, she left the community during the novitiate, feeling the culture and language were too foreign to sustain that life long-term.

Later, while serving as principal at St. Mary of the Lake School in Chicago, Ann encountered the BVMs through a BVM grant-funded counselor and eventually through friendships and visits to Mount Carmel Bluffs. Drawn to their joyful spirit and core values—especially freedom—she began to discern a BVM vocation more seriously. Despite concerns about her age, she reached out in faith.

“I emailed the BVMs, thinking I was too old to enter, but had to let the Lord know I still wanted to respond to his call. Yikes! Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM didn’t say no!” Ann shares, “Freedom is the BVM value that attracted me most. I could be myself. And the BVMs were intelligent, loving, happy, serving the lost, forgotten, and poor.”

She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 14, 2000, from St. Emily Parish in Mt. Prospect, Ill., was received on Sept. 15, 2001, and made her first vows on July 12, 2003, and perpetual vows on Easter Sunday (April), 2008.

Her first ministry as a BVM was principal at St. Rose in Wilmington, Ill., from 2003 to 2004. She then returned to Alabama where she directed the Good Shepherd Catholic Center in Mosses from 2004 to 2008.

Ann explains, “I reopened an outreach center, began a food pantry, and a resale shop I named ‘The Price is Right,’ a children’s library, traveling to serve five senior groups across Lowndes County.  With Frances Ann Schaefer, BVM, I taught sewing on sewing machines to women for the first time, starting a little business for women sewing tote bag purses (Ala-Baga). Working with the Edmundites, we served the African American poor.”

In 2007, she returned to Mosses and prepared for final vows. Her ministry continued at Edmundite Southern Missions from 2007 to 2008. Afterward, she moved to Waukegan, Ill., where she served at St. Dismas Parish from 2009 to 2012 as Director of Faith Formation, and later as BVM Associate Coordinator from 2012 to 2014. “I loved my years at St. Mary of the Lake Parish and School in Uptown before I became a BVM. But ministry at St. Dismas and in the South gave me opportunities to serve in faith formation and the Associate community to walk with others in spiritual companionship.”

In 2014, she moved to Des Plaines, Ill., to become the primary caregiver for her mother, who was living with Alzheimer’s. “I retired as BVM Associate Coordinator to care for my mother,” she reflects. “Although she died at 90, we really lost her years earlier. After her death, having been married to Dad for 68 years, Dad slowly began a new life without Mom. I will forever be grateful (as was he) to the community for letting me care for my parents.”

Ann continues to live in Des Plaines with an ongoing presence in the BVM community. “I am grateful and proud to have a loving family and community.” Her dedication to the BVM Congregation extends beyond ministry. She served in several leadership roles, including the Mode 3 process and the Continuity and Coordination Committee (2006–2010), the Margaret Mann Fund Subcommittee, and as Associate Coordinator.

As she reflects on the meaning being a BVM and her jubilarian celebration, Ann says, “To be a BVM means to walk in the footsteps of Mary Frances Clarke, who came to the United States to serve children and then had to change her mission and destination. She worked beside her companions and life was shared in simple yet profound ways. It was not just a ministry of education, but also social justice, even if not known in those words. She lived poorly and the early community struggled; they took in widows and a variety of women. With the BVMs, I wanted to ‘act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God.’”

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Katherine “Kathy” Kandefer, BVM, is the oldest of seven children in the Edwin and Loretta (Otte) Kandefer family. She was “the big sister to everybody,” though she jokingly admits, “sometimes they didn’t like that.” Among her siblings, she was closest in age to her sister Karyl, and the two share a special connection.

She grew up in St. Ferdinand Parish and attended elementary school there, where she first met the BVMs. She later attended the BVM-staffed high school, The Immaculata, and treasured the atmosphere the sisters created. “The BVMs encouraged us to do what was important and to find a prescriptive path,” Kathy recalls.

Her decision to enter the congregation came after much reflection. “It took me a long time . . . I felt God was speaking to me and I kept saying, ‘Oh, forget this noise!’” Five years after graduating high school, while working and living on her own, Kathy made a life-changing decision. She explains, “I was trying to ignore that call from God. And it got to the point where I couldn’t ignore it any longer.”

Kathy reached out to the BVMs she had maintained close connections with from St. Ferdinand and The Immaculata. Sister Carmelina Meyers, BVM, a teacher from her St. Ferdinand days, was her key contact person.

When Kathy told her family of her decision, their response was supportive; she recalls telling her mother one night, only to find that the next morning she had told the whole church! Her dad was supportive while her younger brother teased her a bit, chiding, “What’s this about you becoming a nun?” Kathy replied decisively, “Yeah. What about it?”

At the age of 23, Kathy entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 12, 1975. Kathy spent her first two years in novitiate, splitting time between Phoenix and Dubuque, Iowa. She then returned to Chicago to attend Mundelein College, earning her bachelor’s degree in religious studies.

Initially beginning as a kindergarten teacher in Omaha, Neb., Kathy transitioned into parish ministry, serving as pastoral associate at St. Clare Parish in Portland, Ore. She then became the Diocesan Director of Catechesis in Uncasville, Conn., (1987–1994), part of the Norwich Diocese. She returned to Dubuque to serve as Coordinator of Initial Membership before relocating to Silver Spring, Md., to minister as associate director for the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership in Washington, D.C., (2001–2008). She then served as director of conferences and events at the Washington Theological Union. Kathy enjoyed living in Washington, D.C., recalling, “I loved the diversity, the different things to do. I made so many connections and just valued being in the nation’s capital.”

Her work with the Religious Formation Conference began in 2012. This role enriched her appreciation for the many charisms within religious life. “Working for the Religious Formation Conference helped me really appreciate our BVM charism in a different way,” Kathy reflects. Returning to Chicago, Kathy continued her leadership within the conference, eventually becoming operations manager. In 2021, Kathy was elected second vice president of the BVM Congregation. This four-year appointment ends in 2025. She was recently re-elected for another four-year term, and will serve as first vice president from 2024–2029.

Outside of ministry, Kathy enjoys creative hobbies like making cards and doing a variety of craft activities. She especially enjoys cooking and entertaining when she has time. “When I was out on the East Coast, I developed a liking for crab,” she says. “Whenever I could find it on sale, it was like, ‘OK! We’re getting crab!”—much to the delight of her guests.

Although a city girl at heart, Kathy recently moved to Dubuque and is settling into life at Mount Carmel Bluffs. “The people I love are here,” she says. She is also grateful to be close enough to visit her family often in Chicago.

For Kathy, being a BVM means, “I have this really large family. We care for each other and talk to each other.” Her many moves across the country for ministry assignments—from Portland to Norwich to Washington, D.C., and back—were never just relocations but purposeful responses to where she was needed. “The opportunities I’ve had—to live all across this nation—are tied to me being a BVM. I’m grateful for all of the connections and experiences I’ve had.”

Mary Lou Wetzell, BVM, born on June 7, 1949, in Chicago, is the only child of Robert R. and Mary (Schatz) Wetzell. Her father hailed from Prophetstown, Ill., and her mother was born in Rugby, N.D. Growing up in Chicago, Mary Lou’s early years were filled with strong family bonds and joyful memories that shaped the foundation for her lifelong dedication to service and education.

She attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School and then The Immaculata High School, graduating in 1967. Mary Lou pursued higher education at Northeastern Illinois State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971 with a major in elementary education, focusing on early childhood education. From 1971 to 1974 she taught primary school at Our Lady of Mercy in Chicago.

Before discerning religious life, Mary Lou built a strong foundation in education and teaching, shaped earlier by the presence of the BVMs. She first encountered BVMs during her school years. She reflects, “I had them as my teachers from kindergarten through high school. Those were such happy times. So grateful!” The seeds of her vocation were planted early, and she recalls, “It unfolded over time! With prayer, listening to God calling me to my life as a BVM, probably since I was in the third grade. Growing up with BVMs, they felt like family.” Of her decision to join the BVMs, she shares, “My parents said, ‘I just want you to be happy.’”

On Sept. 13, 1974, Mary Lou entered the BVM Congregation from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Chicago.

Mary Lou began her ministry as a BVM in 1974 as a primary school teacher at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School in Phoenix, where she taught primary school until 1981. She then moved to Holy Family School in Glendale, Calif., teaching from 1981 to 1985, before returning to Chicago to prepare for her final vows. She took her final vows on May 3, 1986.

From 1986 to 1994 Mary Lou taught preschool at her former grade school, Our Lady of Lourdes. She also served at Queen of All Saints School, teaching preschool for 25 years and touching countless young lives and families along the way. Reflecting on her ministry at Queen of All Saints, she shares, “So many people have touched my life, but I am most grateful for the energy and playfulness that the preschool-age children have shared with me. I helped open the first preschool there, and it’s still growing!”

In 2019, she transitioned to an administrative assistant role at Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix, where she served until 2023.

Now retired at Mount Carmel Bluffs in Dubuque, Iowa, Mary Lou shares, “Retirement gives me the freedom to volunteer where I am needed, enjoy the outdoors, pray, read, attend musicals, connect with friends, travel, care for my plants, do water aerobics, photography, and take advantage of so many opportunities life gives us.” She laughs, adding that she “should” take some cooking classes — a skill she says she is not especially fond of or good at. She also enjoys going on retreats and deepening her spiritual life.

Reflecting on her 50 years as a BVM, Mary Lou shares, “I am so blessed to be a member of such an awesome, loving BVM family. My relationship with God, along with the BVM core values of freedom, education, charity, and justice, continue to guide and inspire me.”

LaVerne Dolphin, BVM was born on a cold November day on the Dolphin farm in Cascade, Iowa. She was raised by her parents, Albert and Beatrice (Sullivan), in a home that was filled with several generations of family. Her older sister Lois, her Grandma, her Great Aunt Lucy, and Uncle Bill added to the full house that valued hard work and family love.

Due to brief moves back and forth from Davenport, Iowa, to Cascade, her education took place at multiple schools, starting with St. Joseph’s in Davenport and St. Martin’s in Cascade. Her family eventually settled in Davenport and enrolled LaVerne in Sacred Heart school, which was staffed by BVMs. She completed elementary school there with special remembrance of her eighth-grade teacher Sister Patrice Norine Dunn, BVM.

Patrice Norine impacted LaVerne in many ways, but most notably in helping LaVerne discern her vocation. She recalls, “I probably decided to become a BVM early on in elementary school but was even more convinced in eighth grade when we had a career day presentation and Patrice Norine dressed me up as a BVM sister.” This small action encouraged LaVerne to ponder if she could become a “real” BVM. She thought, “Maybe I can.”

The desire stayed with her in high school where she was once again instructed and mentored by BVM teachers. Her days at Immaculate Conception Academy only solidified her calling. LaVerne’s family welcomed her choice as her older sister Lois was already at Mount Carmel in Dubuque, Iowa, as a novice. Family visits to Mount Carmel eased any apprehension she or her family may have had of her decision as Lois and the other novices seemed to be happy and having a great time, enjoying their studies and time with each other.

At the age of 17, LaVerne entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, taking the religious name Thereselle. She entered on Sept. 8, 1955, from Sacred Heart in Davenport and was received into the community on March 19, 1956. This was the beginning of a beautiful, dedicated life of service.

Her years in the congregation were spent in various educational ministries, teaching in schools across the Midwest, including in Chicago, Omaha, Davenport, and then South to Clarksdale, Miss., which proved to be a transformative experience that influenced the rest of her life. As LaVerne’s vocation deepened, her work extended beyond teaching, reaching into prison ministry, adult education, ministry to the homeless, pastoral ministry and Mount Carmel support services. These experiences helped shape her approach to ministry, always focused on the individual and the community’s needs.

LaVerne says, “BVM life led me down a path I never could have imagined for myself . . . I was given so many wonderful opportunities for advanced education and encouragement to excel as a teacher and eventually to branch out into other ministries.” She shares that the congregation blessed her efforts financially with ministry grants from the BVM community while sisters in each of her missions offered valuable guidance.

She shares, “I loved everything I did. The ministry I was in was always my favorite until I got to the next one. Each ministry was a preparation and a sending me forth.”

Though LaVerne is no longer actively engaged in full-time ministry, she remains active in the BVM community, volunteering and offering support wherever needed. As a Eucharistic Minister at Mass, she feels privileged to take Communion out to the sisters in other locations who are unable to come to the Mary Frances Clarke Chapel. She enjoys taking part in the life enrichment activities on campus, doing Mindful Meditation, and walking the beautiful Mount Carmel Campus.

LaVerne reflects, “Being a BVM means daily involvement with others in service, community, and prayer for a lifetime . . . a great blessing. Added to all these blessings was having my own sister to share BVM life and mission.”

Florence Mary Heflin, known to those who know her as Flo, has devoted her life to education, service, and ministry. She was born in Chicago, on Feb. 23, 1937, the eighth of 13 children born to Florence Mary (May) Nolan and William Morton Heflin. Together her parents created a nurturing environment for their family, one that would shape Flo’s path toward religious life.

Growing up in the heart of Chicago, Flo recalls, “Our first playmates were  siblings and our ‘upstairs’ cousins. As we grew older, the neighborhood children became the friends with whom we would play and spend time. She shares, “Those years were at the end of the ’30s Great Depression and during the time of WWII. Money was tight and our parents could not afford to buy us bikes, so we improvised ways to entertain ourselves with sidewalk chalk games, jump rope, roller skating and, during wartime, planting and tending a ‘victory garden’ in the vacant lot at the end of the block.”

Despite hard economic times, her parents were determined to send their children to Catholic schools. Flo attended elementary schools in the Chicago area, including St. Martin of Tours and St. Catherine of Siena.

For high school, Flo and her siblings were responsible for their own tuition and expenses—financing it by working after school and weekends. She says, “Tuition at the schools near home were more than we could afford. Mundelein Cathedral was a low-cost high school intended for students across the city that could not afford the higher tuition rates of other Catholic schools. This meant we traveled an hour on the El and subway each way. However, Mundelein Cathedral was near enough to the downtown Chicago Loop where teens could often find after school jobs more easily. Mundelein Cathedral was the obvious and only choice. . . .and it was staffed by the BVMs.”

During her high school years, Flo had two years of journalism classes. One assignment was to write about herself. She says, “I did not write about becoming a ‘nun,’ but when my essay was returned to me, there was a note in the margin asking, ‘Have you ever thought about becoming a BVM?’’’

She pondered that question seriously and decided to join the BVMs a few months after graduation. Her parents were pleased and supportive. In September of 1955, Flo entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary from St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Oak Park, Ill. She was given the name Floretta at reception on March 19, 1956, and her journey as a BVM began.

When asked about her most cherished experiences in ministry, Florence says, “I don’t have a favorite mission. I taught primary grades in Catholic schools for 14 years before moving on to teaching GED classes to adults in a ‘welfare to work’ program in Southeast Missouri for nine years.” After a summer, six week “Third World Experience” grant offered through the BVM Community, Flo moved to the South and engaged in ministries working among poorer communities in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama for the next 23 years. After what she thought was retiring, Florence was invited to Dubuque to work among her Sisters at Mount Carmel for the next six years. She shares, “All of these ministries have formed me in becoming the person I am today . . . and I loved it all.”

Now officially retired, Florence stays busy with too many things to mention. Instead, she jokes that the real question is, “How do I find time to rest in retirement?”

Looking back on a life of 70 years as a BVM and pondering what it means, Flo sums it up quite simply: “It means everything.”

Elizabeth Mary Huber, BVM originally baptized Rita Marie Huber, was born on May 15, 1934, in Sioux City, Iowa. Raised in a loving family with deep Catholic roots, Elizabeth is the daughter of Max Herman and Elizabeth Monica (Beaulieu) Huber. Her father, originally from Utica, S.D., and her mother, hailing from Merrill, Iowa, instilled in Elizabeth the values of faith, dedication, and hard work. These values became the foundation for the life she would later lead.

Growing up in Sioux City, Elizabeth attended several schools, beginning with Webster Public School, followed by Cathedral Elementary and High School, and Heelan High School. Her days at Cathedral, under the instruction and care of the BVMs, prompted her interest in becoming a BVMs. “They got a hold on me” she says, describing the deep admiration and love she felt for them.

Elizabeth was also drawn to learning, particularly in subjects like mathematics and science. Her passion for these fields only grew stronger and she pursued her interests at Briar Cliff College. However, the pull to the BVMs remained.

In 1955, at the age of 21, Elizabeth made the life-changing decision to join the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, entering from St. Boniface in Sioux City. She was received into the community on March 19, 1956, and took the religious name Elizabeth Mary.

Elizabeth says, “Initially my decision broke my mom’s heart . . . she wanted me to wait, and to take a more traditional path . . . but I worked hard to be here; it was very important to me.” Elizabeth explains that her mom had experienced a very strict upbringing and didn’t understand the “freedoms the BVMs had.” In time, Elizabeth’s decision was a great blessing to her mom.

Elizabeth continued her educational journey at Iowa State University in Ames, and Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and general science. She later went on to complete a master’s degree in mathematics from St. Louis University in 1965.

Elizabeth’s early years in the congregation were marked by a deep commitment to teaching. She taught high school math at schools in Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Her dedication to her students was evident in the way she helped them understand the beauty and logic of mathematics.

Elizabeth’s passion for education extended to the world of technology when she pursued further studies in data processing. She also took the role of instructor at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, where she taught students who were eager to learn new skills. In addition to her teaching career, Elizabeth also spent several years at Visitation Monastery in Mendota Heights, Minn., where she worked in the areas of art and spirituality, combining her artistic talents with her deep spiritual life.

In her later years, Elizabeth transitioned into a role as a resident and volunteer, continuing her ministry of art and spirituality. Though retired from formal teaching, she still remains an active part of the congregation. A skilled and talented artist, Elizabeth has created many beautiful handmade cards and enjoys photography and iconography.

She also enjoys spending time in prayer and reading. Currently, she is re-reading the New Testament and is pondering at the awesomeness of God’s word . . . particularly the scripture, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” found in Matthew 7:7-8.

Looking back on her many years of ministry, Elizabeth reflects on the meaning of her religious life, describing her vocation as one of deep service and commitment to God.
Elizabeth says, “I am so very blessed. God has been so good to me. My devotion to the BVMs turned around for my mom, as I was able to go home and take care of her . . . Life couldn’t have been better.”

Pat Nolan, BVM grew up in a family rooted in love and faith. Her parents Fred and Dorothy (Johnston) along with her siblings: Tim, Mary, and Peggy played an influential role in her life journey. Her childhood, as the oldest, was happy and she learned early on how to be responsible. Her siblings always looked up to her and she showed them the way!

She enjoyed living in the country with space to roam and nature to enjoy, especially the changing of the seasons each year. Always the book worm, Pat was never happier than with a book under her arm. So she watched her siblings playing outside and enjoyed their accounts of the latest adventures.

As a child, Pat attended St. Luke’s Grade School in St. Paul, Minn., followed by Our Lady of Peace High School, which opened in 1951, as the first BVM high school in the Twin Cities. It was a new high school option in St. Paul and was well received by everyone. Pat was proud to be in the first graduating class. She remembers the impact the BVMs had on her and says, “I was drawn to them. Their professional and fun-loving ways, and spirit of joy which permeated their teaching, were contagious.”

In September of 1955, Pat entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary having graduated from Our Lady of Peace in June of that year. She was received into the community on March 19, 1956, and took the religious name, Frederick Mary, in honor of her Dad, Fred. Pat says that at that time, she did not realize the BVMs were primarily teachers. “I couldn’t imagine at 18 years old that I would or could become a teacher! The Holy Spirit certainly led me and guided me over those years. Surrounded by like-minded women, I grew into the idea and studied hard to make it happen.”

Pat discovered her passion for English and chose it as her major, with minors in history and education. She enrolled at Mundelein College in Chicago where she completed her BA in English. Later, she pursued her MA in English at the University of Iowa.

After teaching for four years at The Immaculate High School in Chicago, an all-girls school, she was missioned at Columbus High School in Waterloo, Iowa. There, she was introduced to co-ed students, and she learned quickly to love the boys!

After three years at Columbus, she was missioned to Wahlert High School in Dubuque, Iowa. It was a new school and Pat joined sisters from other congregations to collaborate in providing a quality education for eager high school students. After 14 years, Pat moved to Clarke University where she taught for 29 years. Pat loved to teach and often said, “Every mission was my favorite! I taught in three high schools and one college. I loved all the experiences. I couldn’t possibly choose a favorite. It has been a delightful, enriching, and challenging career.”

Outside of her formal teaching career, Pat was also involved in BVM Congregational service. She served as Senator for Region 11 and participated in committee work: the Government Study Committee and the Editorial/Resolutions Committee for the Senate. She also wrote for Salt magazine.

In retirement, Pat continues to stay active through volunteer work. She says, “After 49 years of teaching, I retired and volunteered to teach at our BVM Roberta Kuhn Center for 10 years.”  She loved teaching literature and poetry. There were no tests, no grades, and no meetings! The adults who came loved being there and became a circle of friends. To this day, they remember Pat’s poetry classes! She always had a good time teaching and so did her students!

Reflecting on her 70 years as a BVM, Pat says, “I couldn’t have been led to a better life. In some ways it was pure gift and always I found graced moments in every day.”

Sister Marcella O’Rourke, BVM was born on March 9, 1931, in Chicago, the daughter of John R. and Gertrude (Cheval) O’Rourke. Her father, John, was born in Chicago, while her mother, Gertrude, hailed from New Orleans. Growing up in the vibrant city of Chicago, Marcella developed a deep-rooted connection to her faith and the Catholic community. So much so, that as a child, she would play “nuns” with towels on her head, imagining a life of teaching and service long before she knew it would become her reality.

Marcella attended Holy Cross Grammar School, where she had her first encounter with the BVM sisters. She continued her education at The Immaculata High School, also a BVM staffed school.

Marcella’s path took a pivotal turn when she felt called to religious life. She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 8, 1955, from St. Brendan Parish in Chicago. She was received into the BVM congregation on March 19, 1956, made her first vows on Feb. 3, 1958, and her final vows on July 16, 1963, marking the beginning of her lifelong commitment to service and ministry within the BVM community. Reflecting on her call and her family’s support, she says, “My mother was very happy and supportive when I wanted to become a BVM.”

While continuing her formation and ministry, Marcella pursued higher education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1959. Later, she continued advanced studies at Loyola University in Chicago, earning a Master of Education in guidance and counseling in 1973, followed by a Master of Pastoral Studies in 1991, and a Pastoral Associate certification in 1994. Reflecting on her thirst for learning, Marcella shares, “I worked full time and went to class and studied at night,” highlighting the determination it took to balance ministry, work, and education not only for her master’s degree but for the degrees and certification that followed.

Her early ministry as a BVM was rooted in education. Marcella taught at various schools across the United States, beginning with St. Thomas Aquinas in Wichita, Ky., where she served as a teacher for fourth and fifth grades from 1959 to 1963. She then moved to Kauai, Hawaii, to teach at Holy Cross School from 1963 to 1968. Reflecting on her time in Hawaii, Marcella recalls, “I loved hiking in Hawaii . . . they taught me a lot about their beautiful culture. The children’s Christmas programs were delightful. I remember the children singing ‘Little Drummer Boy’—such a joyful memory.”

After Hawaii, Marcella continued her teaching ministry in Butte, Mont., at St. Joseph’s School (1968–1969) and St. Ann’s Junior High School (1969–1972), where she taught fifth through eighth grades and served as the science teacher. “I loved being in the mountains in Butte, and I loved the snow,” she fondly shares about her time there.

In 1972, Marcella moved to St. Anne School in East Moline, Ill., where she taught science, religion, and guidance to sixth through eighth grades. Her teaching career expanded as she served as a guidance counselor at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Ill., from 1975 to 1981. Speaking about her time at Alleman, she reflects, “I really enjoyed the community during my Alleman teaching days. It was so special,” highlighting the deep relationships she formed with staff and students alike.

Marcella’s ministry expanded even further when she worked at the Cathedral High School in Chicago from 1981 to 1990, first as a counselor and attendance officer, then as a religion teacher.

Marcella transitioned into pastoral ministry, becoming a pastoral associate at Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge. She later continued her pastoral work at the Women’s Center in Evergreen Park, Ill., from 1994 to 2003. Reflecting on her work with parish and community members, Marcella’s life exemplified a heart always open to serving those in need.

Following her retirement from active ministry, Marcella continues to live out her vocation through prayer and service. She treasures the many blessings she has received. Expressing her gratitude for her life’s journey, Marcella says she gives, “Daily thanks to God for family, faith, friends, and the BVMs.” She continues, “I have been blessed throughout my life, and I am still being blessed.” One of her most treasured times as a BVM was in 2010 when the community allowed her sister to come live at Mount Carmel Bluffs. “I’m so grateful for that, it was so very important to me.”

Reflecting on her life in community, Marcella says, “I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful sisters and staff. I look at the staff as family; I pray for them. I thank God for all of my blessings.”

Rosemary Surby, BVM, born on Oct. 24, 1937, in Chicago, is the daughter of Michael Allen and Rose Cecelia (Poglajen) Surby. Her father, Michael, was from Winnipeg, Canada, while her mother, Rose, was born in Chicago. Rosemary grew up in a family with deep roots in faith and community, and her family’s values would shape her path toward religious life. Her dad was a hardworking “railroad man.” Rosemary was the youngest of three children, with sister Joanne and brother Michael. She recalls a very happy childhood and has many wonderful memories, some of which include visiting her Ukrainian grandparents in Canada and sleeping in the loft of their farmhouse . . . precious memories of innocence, family, and faith.

Rosemary attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine Elementary School in Chicago, which was run by Dominican sisters. It was during these formative years that she developed a strong sense of vocation and told her parents that she wanted to become a nun. At that time, her parents preferred her to experience a more “typical teenage life.” Later, however, her mother encouraged her to attend Mundelein Cathedral High School, where the influence of the BVM sisters solidified Rosemary’s vocation and calling.

Rosemary says, “Being taught by the BVMs, I loved their attitudes and the way they loved. They were happy people, and so that would be that. I decided I wanted to become a BVM.” Her mother fully supported her choice, while her father, cautious but loving, reassured her, “If you don’t like it, I’ll come and get you.”

She entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 8, 1955. She took her first vows on Feb. 3, 1956, and took her final vows on July 16, 1963.

Rosemary spent several years teaching in various elementary schools, including St. Aloysius and St. Therese Little Flower, both in Kansas City, Mo., and Holy Family in Mason City, Iowa. As an educator, she was committed to providing a solid academic and spiritual foundation for her students, fostering a love of learning and a deep sense of faith.

Rosemary continued her education, attending Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with a minor in education. She furthered her studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., earning a Master of Education in elementary administration and curriculum.

Her teaching career expanded beyond the United States to Quito, Ecuador, working at the Working Boys Center with BVM Miguel Conway. She assisted with the “shoeshine boys” program, supporting young boys who worked hard to earn wages to help their families.

While each mission was special to Rosemary, her eyes sparkle as she speaks of her time in Arizona, “My favorite mission was in Phoenix as a junior high teacher where the people were very kind. I loved living in community in one of the largest convents . . . I also enjoyed going across town to Xavier Prep to see the BVMs there and enjoyed the pool at the convent.”

Throughout her life, Rosemary also held various leadership positions in education, including serving as assistant superintendent and personnel director in the Diocesan School Offices in Kansas City, Mo. She later became the principal at St. Joseph Convent in Round Lake and Downers Grove, Ill. In these roles, she was deeply involved in guiding and supporting both students and faculty.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Rosemary expanded her ministry by working in various academic institutions, including Spalding University in Louisville, Ky., and St. Xavier University in Chicago. She also served as a parish secretary at St. Mary Parish in Riverside, Ill.

In addition to her work in education, Rosemary served as a volunteer for the Congregation’s Development office.

In retirement, Rosemary enjoys doing puzzles in the Motherhouse lounge, where anyone is welcome to help. She also spends time at the Motherhouse library, where she enjoys fiction. She shares, “I also like watching Hallmark, Turner Classic Movies, and the Chicago TV programs: Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD.” She participates in community events, but most of all, she enjoys visiting people. Rosemary says, “I love spending time with my friends and my set — reminiscing and visiting.”

As she reflects on her 70 years as a BVM and what it means, she says the BVMs have “made me feel this is where I belong . . . to help me grow and become a better person . . . I believe in living out the BVM core values of freedom, education, charity, and justice—which are life giving for me.”

Mary (Valerie) Waddell, BVM, born on Aug. 13, 1930, in Milwaukee, is the daughter of James Frost Waddell Jr. and Irene Elaine (Straka) Waddell. Her father, James, was originally from Sedalia, Mo., and her mother, Irene, was born in Milwaukee. James and Irene met as students at Marquette University. Growing up in a family with deep roots and strong values, Mary was shaped by the influence of her parents and grandparents.

Mary attended St. Sebastian Elementary School in Milwaukee and then to her mother’s alma mater, Holy Angels Academy, where she first encountered the BVMs. The BVM sisters left a lasting impression on her, especially her homeroom teacher Dorothy Agnes (Sergius) McHattie, BVM, with whom she kept in touch for many years, and would discuss and ponder her vocation. After graduating from Holy Angels Academy in 1948, she went on to earn her undergraduate degree from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo., in 1953.

While teaching in rural schools, Mary experienced a profound spiritual revelation that would shape the rest of her life. One afternoon, after the school day had ended and the children had gone home, she was looking out the window, preparing to leave. In the stillness, she felt God “speak” to her heart in a clear, mystical, and peaceful way, affirming that she was called to religious life. With deep certainty, she entered the congregation in 1955 from St. Andrew Parish in Tipton, Mo. On March 19, 1956, she was received into the community, taking the religious name, Valerie.

Mary’s early BVM ministry was dedicated to education. She began her teaching career at St. Paul High School in San Francisco, instructing 9th-grade English from 1961 to 1962. She then moved to St. Vincent High School in Petaluma, Calif., where she taught science classes from 1962 to 1967, and later to St. Joseph Academy in Des Moines, Iowa, teaching from 1967 to 1971. Her time in the classroom nurtured not only the minds but also the hearts of her students.

In 1971, Mary’s call to mission work took her to Quito, Ecuador, where she worked at the Working Boys Center. There, she served in the pastoral ministry of a poverty-stricken area, working alongside a doctor and dentist to provide services to the underserved. This experience transformed her heart and deepened her commitment to working with the poor. She later reflected, “I started as a teacher and went to the missions . . . when I came home from Quito, I didn’t want to go back to teaching.”

Feeling called to a new way of serving; Mary pursued nursing. While working in parish ministry at St. Catherine’s Parish in Phoenix, she attended Phoenix College and earned her RN degree. She then served at Maricopa County General Hospital for five years, providing compassionate care to those who needed it most.

Mary’s nursing ministry continued to evolve. After a year volunteering at the United Farm Workers (UFW) Service Center in Keene, Calif., she returned to Phoenix for three more years of nursing service. In 1986, another major chapter in her ministry began when she moved to Guatemala to serve as the clinic administrator at ClÍnica Maxeña in Santo Tomás La Unión. Mary ministered there alongside BVM Sister Anna Katherine Priester for nearly three decades, remaining in Guatemala until 2014. Her deep commitment to the people and the mission there became a defining part of her life.

After returning to the United States in 2014, Mary moved to California, where she continued serving by volunteering with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Lancaster for seven years. Even in retirement, her heart remained focused on service and community.

Mary has always valued her connection to her BVM community. She faithfully returned for the BVM Assemblies even while living in Guatemala, and meeting with her “set” of BVM sisters (sisters that entered the congregation at the same time) every five years in different parts of the country to reconnect and renew treasured memories.

Today, Mary continues to live a full and active life. She enjoys completing jigsaw puzzles, playing solitaire and other games on her iPad, and keeping up with her favorite television shows like Jeopardy, and the news. She volunteers at the Mount Carmel Bluffs library, attends chapel, helps sisters with walking to events and activities, and participates in Roberta Kuhn classes and book discussions with BVM Spiritual Care Ministers. She also loves playing cards and bingo with both sisters and lay residents, especially enjoying games like Liverpool Rummy.

Reflecting on her 70 years as a BVM, Mary sums it up with deep gratitude: “I’m very grateful for all the gifts I have received because I am a BVM and the many relationships I have with my wonderful BVM sisters. I’m just grateful to God for my vocation.”