By Julie Godfrey Miller
Catholic Herald

Sisters honored at special jubilee Mass

EAGLE RIVER -- The Sisters Council of the Diocese of Superior met at St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Eagle River, May 3. During the meeting, sisters celebrating 50th and 70th anniversaries were congratulated.

Following the meeting, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss also honored the jubilarians at a special Mass concelebrated with Fr. Robert Koszarek, St. Peter pastor.

Editor's note: This list of women religious includes Sisters from various religious communities who are serving in the Diocese of Superior and those serving outside the diocese who are members of local religious communities. They provided the Catholic Herald with short biographies.

Sr. Veronica Davison, OSM
Place of Birth: Chippewa Falls, Wis.

Entered religious life: Servants of Mary on Sept. 13, 1931; first profession of vows Aug. 17, 1933; final profession Aug. 15, 1938.

Education: B.S. from The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn.; M.A. in 1965 and Ph.D. in music history from the University of Minnesota in 1973.

Ministries: Spent most of her religious life teaching; first in elementary and then in high schools as well as becoming a college professor. Served as the assistant archivist for the Servite men in Rome for three years after leaving teaching. Currently she is living at Addolorata Villa, Wheeling, Ill.

Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, doing crossword puzzles, and going to Senior Fit (an exercise program using nautilus machines).

Sr. Emilia Emineth, SCSC
Place of Birth: Rosebud, N.D.

Entered religious life: Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, first profession of vows 1933.

Education: Certificate of Dietary Supervision, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, Mo.

Ministries: Cook and dietary supervisor: Deer Park, Ohio; Dickinson, N.D.; Merrill, Wis.; pastoral care, Dickinson, N.D.

Sr. Stanislaus Poehnelt, SCSC
Place of Birth: Whittlesey, Wis.

Entered religious life: Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, first profession of vows 1933.

Education: B.S., M.S. in education, Catholic University of America.

Ministries: Teacher: Deer Park, Ohio; Antigo, Wis.; Merrill, Wis.

Hobbies: Sewing

Sr. Salome Tlusty, SCSC
Place of Birth: Chelsea, Wis.

Entered religious life: Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, first profession of vows 1933.

Education: B.S., elementary education, Athenaeum, College.

Ministries: Elementary teaching, Fenton, Mo.; Haymarsh, N.D.; Deer Park, Ohio; Antigo, Wis.; Rhinelander, Wis. Medical librarian, Dickinson, N.D.

Hobbies: Collecting Christmas Nativity sets

Sr. Mary Helen Conley, OSM
Place of Birth: Gays Mills, Wis.

Entered religious life: Servants of Mary, Ladysmith Sept. 3, 1931. Professed first vows Aug. 15, 1933.

Education and ministries: Taught school for nine years in St. Paul, Minn. and Winston, W. Va. Earned an LPN in 1953 and worked in St. Mary's Hospital, Ladysmith, for 15 years. Moved to Addolorata Villa, Wheeling, Ill., in 1977 and worked as a nurse until retiring.Volunteers at villa, takes Communion to the nursing home and visits the sick.

Hobbies: Reading, taking long walks when weather permits. Is a great fan of the Chicago Cubs.

Sr. Mary Anthony Menting, SCSC
Place of Birth: Phlox, Wis.

Entered religious life: Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, first profession of vows 1953.

Education: B.S. in medical records library science, St. Louis University; M.S. in health administration, Virginia Commonwealth Medical College

Ministries: Teacher, Deer Park, Ohio; chief medical research librarian, St. Joseph's Hospital, Dickinson, N.D.; administrator, Holy Cross Hospital, Merrill; administrator, St. Joseph's Hospital, Breese, Ill.; provincial, Holy Cross Sisters, Merrill; director, Berakhah House, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Sr. Richelle Ranallo, OSF
Place of Birth: Cumberland; member of St. Anthony Parish.

Entered religious life: Entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi of Penance and Charity in Milwaukee on Sept. 8, 1950; professed first vows on Aug. 12, 1953.

Education: Graduated from Cardinal Stritch University with a bachelor's degree in education. Graduate work included studies at Marquette University and University of Wisconsin School of Social Work in Milwaukee, and a degree in gerontology from College Misericordia in Dallas, Pa. Participated in a program of Franciscan studies in Assisi, Italy, in 1993.

Ministries: Past ministries include being principal and teacher in Catholic schools for 36 years in Wisconsin and Iowa; teacher and child-care professional at St. Aemilian Child-Care Center in Milwaukee, a treatment center for emotionally disturbed and at-risk boys; and coordinator at Marian Franciscan Nursing home from 1988 to 2000. Presently serving as pastoral minister at the parishes in in Shell Lake and Sarona.

Hobbies: Hiking, sewing, crocheting, gardening and playing piano.

Sr. Mary Rita Thompson, OSM
Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Minn., raised with siblings: Gail, William Jr. and Thomas in Amery.

Entered religious life: Entered Servants of Mary (Servites) as a postulant in 1952 and professed first vows in 1953.

Education: At the invitation of the Servite Sisters who taught summer CCD in Amery, attended Our Lady of Sorrows High School in Ladysmith. Bachelor's degree in elementary education from Mount Senario College in Ladysmith; nursing certification from St. Paul Technical Institute.

Ministries: Taught in Catholic elementary schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Jersey. Since 1982 worked in home health care ministry in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Currently serves as a home health caregiver in Portage, Wis. Three weekends a month volunteers at Mary House of Hospitality, which offers lodging for people visiting family members or friends who are incarcerated in the Oxford Federal Prison.

Hobbies: Reading, nature walks and bird watching.

Sr. Rita Marie Schneider, SSND
Place of Birth: Loretto, Minn., the oldest of eight children.

Entered religious life: Attended high school at Good Counsel Academy, Mankato, Minn., as an aspirant to religious life. After graduation, entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame candidature in Mankato; professed first vows in 1953

Education: Attended parish school of Ss. Peter and Paul in Loretto and Good Counsel Academy for girls. While teaching attended college classes on Saturdays and during the summer months, and received B.A. from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minn.

Ministries: Taught primary grades and later middle grades in various Catholic Schools in Minnesota and one year in South Dakota. Trained servers and First Communion groups and assisted with sacristy and church works.

Also acted as the reading specialist. Involved in the Charismatic Renewal Marriage Encounter and TEC weekends.

After 28 years, left teaching for parish ministry. Then moved to the Diocese of Superior and has ministered in the diocesan Marriage Tribunal as Procurator/Advocate for 22 years.

Over the years has been involved in choirs and singing groups and has been prayer and song leader in churches and prayer or Bible groups. Involved in helping to start a Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference in Superior, serving as president for about a year.

Hobbies: Taking care of flower gardens and growing houseplants; reading a good mystery story.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003