Anne Jude Van Lanen

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Sister Anne Jude Van Lanen, CSA, baptized as Rosanne Colette, died peacefully on October 7, 2025, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Rosanne was born December 23, 1933, in Wrightstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of Frank and Catherine (Vander Heiden) Van Lanen. She grew up on her family farm with her eight brothers and sisters. After high school graduation in 1952, Rosanne attended St. Agnes School of Nursing, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, staffed by the Sisters of St. Agnes.  Inspired by the sisters, Rosanne chose to enter St. Agnes Convent on October 17, 1954. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Anne Jude on August 15, 1957, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A graduate of St. Agnes School of Nursing in 1955, Sister Anne Jude received a BS in Nursing Education in 1958 from Marian College, Fond du Lac.  She began her life-long ministry in healthcare at St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac, where she served as a head nurse and night supervisor (August 1955-December 1960).  Sister’s dream of being a missionary nurse came true in 1961 when she was assigned to serve at Clínica Santa Inés in Waspam, Nicaragua (1961-1970). Besides working in the clinic, she traveled the river to villages up and down the Río Coco providing medical, dental, and midwifery services. She also trained local health workers. 

When health issues caused Sister to return to the United States in October 1970, she took a position as a staff nurse, PM supervisor, and Home Care Nurse at St. Anthony Hospital, Hays, Kansas (July 1971-July 1973). In July 1973, Sister was elected to the General Council for the Congregation serving the community for four years in this position. She also served at various times in other congregational leadership roles, including Retirement Coordinator for CSA, Local Leader at St. Agnes Convent, and Local Coordinator at Nazareth Court & Center. 
Sister Anne Jude is honored in the Fond du Lac community as one of the founders of hospice care in the city. Beginning in 1977, when the hospice movement was still in its early stages in the United States, Sister traveled to England with Sister Mary Agreda Touchett to research hospice services being developed in that country. Upon their return, they worked with Peg Cerny, RN, other Fond du Lac healthcare providers, and community leaders to establish Agnesian HealthCare Hospice Hope. The program was approved by the State of Wisconsin in 1980.  Hospice began as a home visit program followed by the opening of the first inpatient hospice beds at St. Agnes Hospital in 1982. Sister served as a hospice nurse after its founding until 1990. 

In 1990 Sister returned to Nicaragua, living in Puerto Cabezas and assisting in the formation program for Latin American women entering the Congregation of St. Agnes, a role she held for six years. 

Upon her return to Fond du Lac, she was appointed Local Coordinator at Nazareth Court & Center (1998-2002). Her final years in healthcare ministry were devoted to serving as a chaplain for home hospice patients and those at Hospice Home of Hope. In May of 2018, Sister Anne Jude became a resident at Nazareth Court & Center where she engaged in the life of the community and received loving care until the time of her death. Sister Anne Jude expressed gratitude for her life in this way:

“Mine was a life enriched by all those with whom and to whom I had the privilege of ministering - as nurse - as Sister - in Nicaragua - in CSA community service - in religious life formation - as hospice nurse, chaplain, and volunteer. A life enriched by shared relationships and song—always singing!”

Sister was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Rueben, Ralph, Norbert, Francis, William and Eugene; her sisters Colette Vandehey Nytes and Mary Nelessen Kessler; her niece Sister Kathleen Nelessen, CSA. 

She is survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.
Cremation has taken place. 

All services for Sister Anne Jude will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Visitation will be from 9:00–11:00 a.m. and from 12:00–1:30 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A Prayer Service will be offered at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Sister at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin with Father Tom Zelinski presiding. Burial of cremains will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes and the Van Lanen family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Anne Jude.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.