Sister Dolorosa Oen
December 1912 — February 19, 2017
Resurrection liturgy for Sister Mary Dolorosa Oen was held at the Salem Heights Chapel in Dayton on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Sister died in Dayton on Sunday, Feb. 19. Sister Dolorosa, 104, had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 80 years.
Monica Stella Oen was born in December 1912 in Wapakoneta, Ohio, one of 11 children and was baptized in St. Joseph Church, Wapakoneta on January 5, 1913. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Oen of Wapakoneta and Kathryn Dorsten of St. Marys, numerous nieces, nephews and her Precious Blood Community. She is predeceased by her parents, Frank and Wilhelmina (Fisher) Oen, her five brothers Leonard, Richard, Marvin, Wilbur and Leo and three sisters, Alodia, Sister Ruth (Sister M. Noemi), and Dorothy.
Monica entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood on September 8, 1936 and was given the name Sister Mary Dolorosa. Sister’s long career in the Domestic Arts found her cooking, cleaning and managing the household for seminarians, Bishops, Archbishops and a Cardinal in Norwood and Columbus, Ohio; Rensselaer, Indiana; and St. Louis, Missouri. Her quiet service to others did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. On the occasion of her 50th jubilee, Sister Dolorosa was honored to have then Cardinal John J. Carberry of St. Louis preside at her jubilee Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Botkins, Ohio. In his remarks, Cardinal Carberry commented “I pray that your example of humility, devotion and service will be an inspiration to all.”
Interment took place in the Salem Heights Cemetery.
Sister Mary Ellen (M. deMonfort) Andrisin
April 1936 — January 10, 2017
A memorial Mass for Precious Blood Sister Mary Ellen Andrisin was held at the Salem Heights chapel in Dayton on Monday, January 30. Sister died in Dayton on Tuesday, January 10. Mary Ellen, 80, had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 63 years.
The oldest of four children, Mary Ellen was born in April 1936 to John J. and Genevieve (Razdrh Bradley) Andrisin in Cleveland, Ohio. On January 31, 1954 at the age of 17 she formally entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. In Religious life she was given the name Sister Mary de Monfort and later returned to using her baptismal name. “I am filled,” said Sister Mary Ellen, “with gratitude to my Sisters for the rich experience of living and ministering with them in diverse ways.”
Mary Ellen’s active ministry from 1956 to 1976 was mainly science education, being a teacher of middle school, junior high and high school students. She taught in Saint Joseph, Mo.; in Wapakoneta, Cincinnati, and Celina, Ohio; in Fort Wayne, Ind.; and in Strasburg and Linton, N.D. Later on Sister was the Director of Religious Education in Independence, Ohio and ministered in Pastoral Care at the Maria-Joseph Center, Dayton and Saint Mary Parish in Wooster, Ohio. As Director of Resident Life she ministered for nine years to her religious Sisters at their retirement center, Salem Heights in Dayton, Ohio. She was an associate at the Sorrowful Mother Shrine in Bellevue, Ohio and ministered at the Maria Stein Center, Ohio coordinating events and hospitality. “It is a joy,” said Sister, “to extend hospitality to many diverse people. Sharing faith and prayer with them is a blessing.”
She joined her Sisters in retirement at Salem Heights, Dayton in 2016 and later, because of deteriorating health, moved to the Maria-Joseph Center. In her life she “continued to experience God’s overwhelmingly abundant love, embodied in the Precious Blood.”
Sister Mary Ellen is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters, her brother John (Sharon) Andrisin, her sisters Michele (Curt) Wittig and Danielle Hoffman (Jude Jones) and other relatives and friends.
Sister donated her body to Wright State University.
Sister Carmencita Voisard
May 1922 — January 1, 2017
Resurrection liturgy for Sister Carmencita Voisard was held at the Salem Heights chapel in Dayton, on Wednesday, Jan. 4. Sister died in Dayton on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017. Carmencita, 94, had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 79 years.
One of eight children, Anna Marie was born in May 1922 to Leo and Margaret (Marchal) Voisard in Houston, Ohio. On September 7, 1937 at the age of 15 she formally entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. In Religious life she was given the name Sister Mary Carmencita and later used only the name, Sister Carmen.
Carmen’s active ministry from 1940 to 1998 was education, being a teacher and principal. She educated children in Dayton, Cincinnati, Saint Marys, and McCartyville, Ohio; in Rensselaer Ind. and Denver, Colo. She served as Supervisor of Schools in Denver, and also in a similar capacity for the Congregation’s Sisters in education ministry. During this time she served as General Councilor. In 1973 she opened and directed the Early Childhood Center in Dayton.
In 1998 she joined her Sisters in retirement at Salem Heights, Dayton. In 2011, because of deteriorating health, Carmen moved to the Maria-Joseph Center where she continued to be a person who always looked for the silver lining in every cloud.
Sister Carmencita is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters and nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her brothers, Joseph, and Raymond Voisard and her sisters Mildred Moorman, Elfrieda Borchers, Cecilia Borchers, and Precious Blood Sisters Yvonne and Mary Louise Voisard.
Interment took place in the Salem Heights Cemetery.
Sister Catherine (M. Ruth Ann) Nader
June 1926 — November 25, 2016
Resurrection liturgy for Sister Catherine Nader was held at the Salem Heights chapel in Dayton on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. Sister died on Nov. 25, 2016. Catherine, 90, had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 61 years.
Catherine Margaret was the youngest of 10 children born in June 1926 in Farrell, Penn. to Thomas and Thecla S. (Anton) Nader. On Feb. 2, 1955 at the age of 28, she formally entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. In religious life she was given the name of Sister Mary Ruth Ann and later returned to using her baptismal name.
In the six years before entering the convent Catherine taught in the primary grades in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a Sister of the Precious Blood from 1957-66 she taught students in grades 5-12 in Dayton and Wapakoneta, Ohio. For the next eight years she, as a guidance counselor, ministered at Central Catholic School in Lafayette, Ind. Her Sisters then called her to serve them in congregational administration. In 1980 she returned to what she loved so dearly, teaching, and did so in Ottoville and Wapakoneta, Ohio.
In 1997 she retired and moved to Salem Heights. Believing “one never retires, just gets ‘recycled,’” Sister started an elementary math tutoring program for students in Precious Blood School in Dayton, and later began tutoring adults. In 2012 she realized that, “The Lord has slowed me down in some activities, but has invited me to live a more contemplative life.”
In November 2015, realizing she needed skilled nursing care, she moved to the Maria-Joseph Center. Grateful that God and her Sisters helped her along her journey in life, she looked to the future, remembering God’s promise: “Fear not, for I am with you: Be not dismayed, for I am your God.”
Sister Catherine is survived by her Precious Blood Community of Sisters and nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her brothers, Anise, Anthony and John Nader; and her sisters Mother Mary of the Cross CP, Sister M. Thecla WS, Tafla, Raja, Budder and Sister Genevieve, C.PP.S.
Interment took place in the Salem Heights Cemetery.
Sister Amy Junk
July 1942 — November 20, 2016
Resurrection liturgy for Sister Amy Junk was held at Salem Heights Chapel in Dayton on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. Amy, 74, had been a Sister of the Precious Blood for 55 years.
Born in Fort Wayne, Ind. in July 1942, Ann Marie was the oldest of 11 children born to Edward Junk and Maryellen (Christle) Junk. She is survived by her brothers Thomas, James, Michael, Stephen, and Richard and her sisters Susan, Rose, and Kathleen. After graduating from Fatima Hall in 1960, she entered the Sisters of the Precious Blood at the age of 19. Ann Marie was given the name Sister Amy Marie, which she decided to keep since it was so similar to her baptismal name.
Music was a special gift in Amy’s life. In 1967 she received a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in music. For 12 years Amy taught music in elementary schools in Ft. Wayne, Ind.; St. Joseph, Mo; Linton, N.D.; and Kalida, Ohio. In 1979 she studied at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Ind. and graduated with a Masters in Liturgical Music. She then served five years as a pastoral team member and director of music and liturgy in Saginaw and Clarkston, Mich. as well as in Sylvania, Ohio.
Amy wrote in an issue of Sharing and Caring, “Each day brings a different challenge, a new insight or a new way to grow – letting God work through me so that the people I serve can see how God is working through them.”
“Music helps with communication, Sister Amy said. “Singing also helps with relaxation and breathing.” She has found that music therapy is particularly beneficial for patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s, dementia and long term memory loss. From 2010-2012 she served as a volunteer and GED instructor at Cherry Street Missions Ministries in Toledo, Ohio where she was a gentle and loving presence to the poor and homeless. She had a deep spirit of prayer and compassion and conscientiously tried to be open to where the Spirit was leading her. Creating a balance of leisure, prayer, and work was always important to Amy.
Friends describe Amy as kind and gracious and as one whose own needs are simple. At times those needs are very special, like the organ bench needing to be cut down to allow the feet of this five-foot musician to reach the organ pedals.
After Amy moved to the Orchard House in 2015, she continued to use her skills in music therapy at Emma Hall where she enriched the lives not only of our elderly Sisters but also the lay residents by sharing her gifts of music in her own special way.
In the last several years Amy was actively involved in Vocation Ministry through being a mentor sister, working on committees, doing social media and correspondence as well as participating in C.PP.S. vocation events. A Franciscan Sister from Sylvania, Ohio recently commented on Amy as being a very gifted woman with a huge heart.
Interment took place in the Salem Heights Cemetery.