Obituaries

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Give a donation in honor of Sister Stella Marie Karls

Friday, December 20, 2024
Visitation: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., and 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center
Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel
Liturgy of Christian Burial: 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis Home Chapel
Burial following Liturgy at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery

Download the prayer service booklet as a PDF.
Download the booklet for the Mass of Christian Burial as a PDF.

Sister Stella Marie Karls, CSA, baptized Rita Emma, died peacefully December 9, 2024, at Nazareth Court, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. 

Rita was born September 16, 1930, in Waunakee, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Magdalena (Miller) Karls.  She was the twelfth of thirteen children, five boys and eight girls, who grew up together on their family farm. Rita attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School in Waunakee where she first met the Sisters of St. Agnes. After eighth grade, Rita delayed her high school education to assist her mother who was ill and to work for several years as a telephone operator in Waunakee.  She entered St. Agnes Convent in January of 1953 at the age of twenty-two and attended St. Agnes High School. Rita made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Stella Marie on August 15, 1957, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sister Stella Marie received a BS in Education from Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  She dedicated thirty-seven years to the ministry of education serving as an elementary teacher and as a building principal. Throughout her years in ministry, she continually updated her professional skills taking courses in education, scripture and pastoral ministry.  Sister Stella Marie taught in parish schools in Des Plaines, Illinois; Bronx, New York; and Kewaskum, Marytown, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her final seventeen years of teaching were at St. Joseph’s School in Fond du Lac. A love for children, especially first graders, has been the hallmark of Sister Stella Marie’s life as an educator.  She is fondly remembered by her students to this day. 

Sister retired from teaching in 1995 and began serving as a Minister of Care at St. Joseph Parish and at Holy Family Parish in Fond du Lac. She spent her days taking Communion to the homebound and visiting parishioners in area nursing homes. She also taught parish religious education classes when needed. Her gracious presence brought comfort to all whom she visited. 

In September of 2016, Sister Stella Marie joined her CSA sisters living at Nazareth Court and Center where she actively engaged in community life and received loving care until the time of her death. 

Preceding Sister Stella Marie in death were her parents, her brothers Sylvester, Wilbert, Thomas, Arnold, and Joseph; her sisters Martha Meffert, Ann Karls, Delphine Petranek, Johanna Schwab, Margaret Hellenbrand, and Mary Hellenbrand. 

Sister Stella Marie is survived by her sister Dorothy Maly, several nieces and nephews and their families and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 20, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A Prayer Service in honor of Sister Stella Marie will be held at 11:00 a.m. December 20, 2024, in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m. on December 20, 2024, at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Thomas Zelinski, OFM, Cap., presiding. Burial 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, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes and the Karls family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Sister Stella Marie.

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

Download Sister's obituary as a PDF.  
Descarga la obituario en español

Give a donation in honor of Sister Angie Behen

Download the prayer service booklet as a PDF.
Download the booklet for the Mass of Christian Burial as a PDF.

Sister Angela Behen, CSA, formerly Sister Bennett, died peacefully November 7, 2024, at St. Francis Home, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Angela was born September 7, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Louis Clement and Adeline Kupka Behen. Her mother died when Angela and her sister Louise were both young—ages five and two, respectively. Their father married Ann Miskoci when Angela was eight. In 1952, the family moved to Burlington, Wisconsin, where Louis owned and operated an automotive parts store. After graduating from Burlington High School in 1959, Angela, wanting to be a teacher, chose to attend Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It was there that she met the Sisters of St. Agnes and began discerning a call to religious life. Angela entered St. Agnes Convent in 1961. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Bennett on August 15, 1964, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sister Angela (Sister Angie) earned her BS in Education and English from Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and her MA in Education and Public Relations from Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. She served as an intermediate and junior high teacher for 14 years in parish schools in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois. She then accepted roles as director of public relations in various settings: St. John Rest Home, Victoria, Kansas; St. Mary’s Springs High School, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; St. John’s Rest Home Corporation, Hays, Kansas; Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Her favorite public relations roles were serving as a receptionist at St. Agnes Convent and Nazareth Heights Infirmary, both in Fond du Lac.

In 1992, Sister Angie moved to Evanston, Illinois, commuting two hours each way for work as a development associate and sacramental coordinator for St. Ambrose Catholic School located in an African American community on the southside of Chicago. In addition, she worked in public relations for a social service agency in the neighborhood. To avoid the long commute, she moved to a CSA community house in Englewood on the southwest side of Chicago. She treasured the people and the experiences she had living and ministering in these Chicago neighborhoods.

Sister Angie also served her CSA community as Co-Director of Associates beginning in 1994 through 2001.

Returning to Fond du Lac in 1998, Sister Angie became actively involved in area organizations including the Senior Center, the Red Hat Society, and the Center for Spirituality and Healing. Having never driven, and hampered by physical limitations, she relied on Fond du Lac’s Quality Cab for transportation. In what she called her “ministry of the streets,” Sister Angie formed bonds with the cab drivers and served as the company’s weekend dispatcher for one year.

Sister Angie joined the CSA community at Nazareth Court and Center in December 2006. Despite having difficulty walking, she was determined to remain actively engaged in life with her CSA sisters, her family, and her friends. She enjoyed her weekly volunteer hours at the Simple Blessings Gift Store operated by St. Francis Home. Her favorite ministry was journey partnering—sitting often through the night with sisters who were dying.

In August 2024, Sister Angie was admitted to St. Francis Home where she received loving care until the time of her death.

Preceding Sister Angela in death were her parents, Louis and Adeline, and her stepmother, Ann.

Sister is survived by her sister, Louise (John) Vos; her nieces, Kary Mirasola, Betsy Vos Reeves, Sarah Martin and their families; her nephew, Kevin Vos; and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.

Cremation has taken place.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A Prayer Service will be offered at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, November 19, in Nazareth Center Chapel. Visitation will continue following the Prayer Service until 1:30 p.m.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Thomas Zelinski, OFM, Cap., presiding. Burial of cremains will take place, following the Mass, at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Home, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, WI 54935 or to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes and the Vos family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center, St. Francis Home, and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Sister Angie.

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