Remembering Sister Laura Filipas, OSF

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On April 24, 2023, after a short time in hospice care, Sister Laura Filipas died quickly, peacefully, and unexpectedly. After 88 years of loving her family and then her religious community, she passes on that legacy of love to all of us. Some years ago, in creating a document that might be called a spiritual will, Sister Laura wrote, “I am a teacher to the marrow of my bones because I love to learn and share, but intellect and knowledge without love and understanding is nothing. Any success I may have achieved, any good I may have done for others, was inspired by my familial and Franciscan ancestors. This is the love I leave, to live on in you who read these words.”

On May 28, 1934, Laura Ann Filipas was born in Chicago to Croatian parents, Pearl (Bogdanic) and John J. Filipas, both of whom had been born in Austria. She was their youngest child and was welcomed into a family of three brothers and one sister. They were raised in Sacred Heart-Englewood parish in Chicago. At her 25th Jubilee, Sister Laura described her entry into the Joliet Congregation as a kind of home and Community affair. She recalled with amusement driving herself, her mother, and Sisters Francella and Celestine to Joliet the day she entered. Her companions then had to wait for a return trip to Chicago until her brother, after work, could travel to Joliet by bus to chauffeur them home.

Read More About Sister Laura’s Life

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Sister Laura or another Joliet Franciscan Sister, please click here:  Remembering our Deceased Sisters.

Remembering Sister Donna Marie Baier, OSF

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Sister Donna Marie Baier was born in Chicago, Illinois, on August 26, 1936, to Wilhelmina (Jaeger) and George Baier. One of five children, Sister Donna Marie (Dorothy Elizabeth) had one brother, Brother Leonard George, FSC, and three sisters, Sister M. George Baier, OSF, Bernice (Harry) Bloom, Beatrice (Kenneth) Leyendecker, all of whom have preceded her in death. She entered our Joliet Franciscan congregation in 1954 from Sacred Heart Englewood Parish in Chicago.

After majoring in science at the College of St. Francis, Donna Marie became an elementary school teacher, whose skills in the classroom were immediately recognized and affirmed by principals in every school where she taught. After 16 years, Sr. Donna Marie became the long-time principal of St. Joseph School in Manhattan, Illinois, a position she held for 21 years. As is often the case in small schools, she did double duty as a teacher every one of those years.

Her ministry there alongside her great friend, Sr. Bernadine Hasse, brought her much joy and many happy memories of their time together. They enjoyed their home life and travels as well as their hard work together on behalf of the parish and town. As her friend, Bernie’s needs grew greater and greater during her last few years of life, Donna Marie was ever at her side – reading to her, praying with her, tending to her physical as well as emotional needs. She accompanied her to the very last moment with patience and friendship.

Read More About Sister Donna Marie’s Life

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Sister Donna Marie or another Joliet Franciscan Sister, please click here:  Remembering our Deceased Sisters.

Remembering Sister Lucille Adelmann, OSF

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On the evening of March 26, 2023, in the company of loved ones, our sister, Lucille Adelmann, was led peacefully from this life into paradise. As a hope-filled healer, a gifted comforter and a courageous advocate over the course of her ninety-six years, we can imagine that among the angels who came to carry Lucy home to God, the Archangel Raphael, most certainly took the lead.

In the summer of 1926, Agnes (Brankey) and Harry Adelmann welcomed into the world of Lockport, Illinois, a precious infant daughter whom they named Lucille Agnes. As a family, the Adelmanns belonged to St. John the Baptist Parish in Joliet, Illinois, where they were welcomed by the
Franciscan Friars. It was at St. John’s that Lucy and her sister, Evelyn Rose, received the sacraments of Christian Initiation as well as a Catholic elementary school education provided by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate. During her adolescent years, Lucy continued to come under the influence and inspiration of many Joliet Franciscan sisters who were her teachers and mentors at St. Francis Academy and later at the College of Saint Francis. As a student, Lucy’s abilities in Mathematics and Science were noteworthy as was her natural talent for music that found expression in her beloved instrument, the accordion. However, there was much more to the young Lucy Adelmann than these particular talents and gifts. Generous, kind, intuitive, undaunted, compassionate and attentive to God’s holy manner working in her life, Lucy’s Franciscan heart was enkindled with love for the God who called her by name.

Read More About Sister Lucille’s Life

If you would like to make a donation in honor of Sister Lucille or another Joliet Franciscan Sister, please click here:  Remembering our Deceased Sisters.