Remembering Sister Carole von Buelow, OSF

Our Sister Carole von Buelow was born the youngest of three children to Bodo and Winifred (Geary) von Buelow on December 27, 1937, on Chicago’s north side. She and her sister Carlene and brother Robert were raised in a loving and supportive German-Irish Catholic family. She graduated from St. Clement grade school and high school where she encountered the Joliet Franciscans she would join directly from high school.

Growing up in Chicago was formative in Carole’s life. She had an early and life-long allegiance to the Chicago Cubs, recalling attending games on Ladies Day – and dressing up to do so. She retained and stayed in touch with her girlhood friends from St. Clement throughout her life. She did not learn to drive as a teenager, as so many people do, because she had no need to do so. She rode public transportation as did her parents. In fact, it was well into her adulthood that she finally obtained a driver’s license, though she always shied away from highways. Although reticent about driving, that was certainly not one of the characteristics of her professional or religious life. Carole was a decisive, clear-thinking, innovative educator, consultant and administrator. As far back as her freshman year in college, one of her superiors wrote that she would be well-positioned for graduate school in whatever subject she would pursue. That intellect and discipline would serve her and so many others well for the almost 50 years she spent in education.

Read More About Sister Carole’s Life

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