Obituaries

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Give a donation in honor of Sister Emily Schug

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

Sister Emily Schug, CSA, baptized Mary, died peacefully March 5, 2025, at St. Francis Home, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Mary was born June 30, 1931, in Yonkers, New York, the youngest of five children of John and Frances Kruppenbacker Schug. Mary attended Sacred Heart Grade School and High School in Yonkers, staffed by the Sisters of St. Agnes.  

When Mary was just ten, her older sister, Theresa, entered St. Agnes Convent, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Her sister’s experience stirred in Mary the beginnings of a call to religious life. This desire grew within her throughout her remaining school-age years.  After high school graduation in 1949, Mary chose to enter St. Agnes Convent. She knew she would miss her sisters at home and their love and encouragement. Knowing she would have many sisters in her CSA community supporting her desire to live as a follower of Jesus gave her peace in taking this step.  She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Emily on August 15, 1952. 

In her biography, Sister Emily describes her life as a woman religious as having three phases. During the first phase, 1952-1966, Sister Emily earned her BS in Elementary Education from Marian College of Fond du Lac. While earning her degree, she was an elementary school teacher in Altoona and Nanty-Glo, Pennsylvania. At St. Mary’s Parish, Nanty-Glo, she was also the parish organist. She truly enjoyed her years in Pennsylvania yet began to feel a call beyond the classroom to work in catechetical ministry, ministering among those hungry to hear the Word of God. Feeling drawn to the people of Nicaragua, she volunteered to serve in the foreign missions with CSA in Latin America.  Thus began the second phase of Sister Emily’s life, 1966-1991. On August 22, 1966, she left the USA to study Spanish language and culture in Ponce, Puerto Rico. This coincided with the sessions of Vatican Council II in the Catholic Church. The documents published by the Council became the foundation for her life as a missionary. Her first assignment in Latin America was at Cardinal Spellman School, Quito, Ecuador.  There she served as an English teacher and catechist while continuing to study Spanish and catechesis. Participating in a comprehensive catechetical course in Mexico City, Mexico, provided the strong foundation for her future years in Latin America. Sister began her ministry in Nicaragua in 1970, serving in towns along the East Coast: Rosita, Waspam, Puerto Cabezas, and one year in Matagalpa. She was a beloved presence in each of these settings. Her main ministry was catechesis: teaching children to know and love Jesus, preparing other catechists, and working with youth groups. As a lasting gift to the catechists who followed her, she compiled all the lessons she created into a Catechism for First Eucharist which is still used to this day.

In 1991, after twenty-five years in Latin America, Sister Emily, at age 60, decided to return to the US to dedicate her remaining energies to the third phase of her life, 1992-2025. Returning to Fond du Lac, Sister Emily accepted the position as CSA Spanish translator, a role she faithfully served for twenty years. She translated the continuous flow of written documents and correspondence necessary to unite the life and ministry of the sisters in Latin America with the sisters in the USA, a true gift to her congregation. During this time, Sister Emily was actively involved with the Hispanic community of Holy Family Parish. While the young children participated in their sacramental preparation in English, Sister would meet with the parents, conversing in both Spanish and English, assisting them with their role in the Christian formation of their children.  She volunteered countless hours at St. Agnes Hospital as a greeter and an interpreter for new mothers and Hispanic patients in the hospital and in hospice care, providing comfort in their native language.  She enjoyed traveling with and serving as interpreter for Dr. Ann Schlaefer, a Campbellsport optometrist, and her eye clinic team who made mission trips to Rosita and other rural towns in Nicaragua. She has been honored for her work translating into Spanish the works of spiritual writers, including the life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha by Fr. Francis X. Weiser, SJ, and the book, The Fire in These Ashes, by Sister Joan Chittister, OSB.  In each phase of her life, Sister Emily served with an open heart, loving the people and sharing in their lives.  Her religious life was rooted in prayer and her deep faith in a loving God who kept her going. 

In August 2013, Sister Emily joined the community of sisters at Nazareth Court and Center to receive care for increasing health issues, including failing eyesight. She moved to St. Francis Home in November 2020, continuing to receive loving care until the time of her death. 

Preceding Sister Emily in death were her parents; her sisters, Sister Mary Frances Schug, CSA, and Rita Bachop; her brother, John Schug, OFM Cap.

Sister is survived by her sister, Frances Grace; her nieces, nephews and their families; and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.

All services for Sister Emily will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Visitation will be held 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 will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Tom Zelinski, OFM Cap., presiding. 
Burial will follow in 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 Schug family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court & Center, St. Francis Home, and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Sister Emily. 
Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes. 
 

Download Sister's obituary as a PDF.  
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Give a donation in honor of Sister Mary Rose Meis

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

Sister Mary Rose Meis, CSA, baptized Shirley Ann, died peacefully February 11, 2025, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Shirley was born November 15, 1937, in Hays, Kansas, the oldest of the eight children of Servillian (Bill) and Irene Weigel Meis. The Sisters of St. Agnes were her teachers during her first two years in elementary school and again while attending Girls Catholic High School in Hays, Kansas. After her high school graduation in 1955, she chose to enter St. Agnes Convent, joined by her younger sister, Mary Agnes, now known as Sister Marise Meis, CSA. Shirley made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Mary Rose on August 15, 1958, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sister Mary Rose was a generous and devoted woman of service, ever present and responsive to those in need. She spent her life as an educator and serving in leadership roles for her CSA community.  She earned her BS in Education in 1962 from Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and her MA in Elementary Administration in 1974 from Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa. She enhanced these degrees with ongoing educational and theological courses throughout her years in ministry.

Sister was an elementary school teacher and principal in parish schools in Wisconsin and Indiana from 1959 to 1986.  She took a pause from her educational ministry in 1986 to serve as a Regional Coordinator for her CSA community, supporting the personal, professional, communal, and spiritual needs of her sisters. Upon the completion of her term in 1990, Sister Mary Rose accepted the position as principal of St. Mary’s School in Jackson, Mississippi, serving the needs of the African American children and their families for eight years.

After a year of sabbatical in 1999, Sister Mary Rose accepted roles of service for her community: Local Coordinator at Nazareth Court and Center, the CSA retirement center (2000-2009); CSA Motherhouse Administrator (2010-2019).

Sister retired from these congregational responsibilities in 2019. She remained a familiar face in the local Fond du Lac community attending many justice and peace events. She was a key person in the Clean Your Closet for Cantera sales that raised funds for the ministry of the sisters in Nicaragua. Sister Mary Rose spent countless hours volunteering with Stone Soup, Ebony Vision, United for Diversity, the Senior Center, the Fond du Lac Center for Spirituality and Healing, Agnesian HealthCare Grief Relief, ASTOP, the Simple Blessings Gift Store operated by St. Francis Home and CSA sponsored activities. She was a faithful supporter of Marian University assisting with many of their special events.  She also truly enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society. Her struggle with dementia and subsequent declining health led her to become a resident at Nazareth Court and Center in February 2024. There she received loving care until the time of her death.

Preceding Sister Mary Rose in death were her parents and her sisters, Yvonne Rodriguez, and Geraldine Henning.
Sister is survived by her sisters, Sister Marise Meis, CSA, Katherine (Jeff) Plank, Christine Hadley; her brothers, Father Peter Meis, OFM Cap., Michael Meis; her brother-in-law, Richard Henning; her nieces and nephews and their families, and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.

All services for Sister Mary Rose will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Visitation will be held 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 Mary Rose will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Carl Diederichs presiding. 
Burial will follow in 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 Meis family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Sister Mary Rose.

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 Dennis O'Connor

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

Sister Dennis O’Connor, CSA, baptized Doris Julia, died January 27, 2025, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Doris was born May 15, 1923, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Bernard M. and Catherine M. Siepe O’Connor. She attended St. Florian’s Catholic Grade School in Milwaukee where she met the Sisters of St. Agnes. Doris entered St. Agnes Convent in 1939 and earned her high school diploma from St. Agnes High School. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Dennis on August 15, 1943, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sister Dennis spent her life as a Sister of St. Agnes serving her sisters as a homemaker, driver, and assistant at the CSA retirement centers in Fond du Lac—Nazareth Heights, and Nazareth Court and Center. For thirty-one years she was the homemaker for her sisters ministering in local communities in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and Wisconsin.  Her boundless energy, her ready spirit, and her commitment to fostering joyful community life marked these years of service. Assigned to St. Luke’s Parish in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, in 1974, Sister provided pastoral care to parishioners while serving as the homemaker for the CSA community ministering in the parish.  In 1980, she became the homemaker and driver for the sisters at Beloit Catholic High School, Beloit, Wisconsin. Beginning in 1986, Sister Dennis found her greatest joy serving the retired and infirm sisters at Nazareth Heights in Fond du Lac. She worked as an assistant to the local coordinators, doing whatever was needed to care for her sisters.  She helped prepare and carry out the move of the sisters to Nazareth Court and Center in November 1998. She herself became a resident of Nazareth Court and Center at the time of this move and continued to assist the local coordinators. One of the treasured memories of the CSA community about Sister Dennis during this time was her seven years of companionship and devoted care of Sister Claude Feldner, CSA, until her death at the age of 109 in 2008.  Sister continued to serve where needed until her own health warranted that she receive care herself.  Even as her health declined, she remained engaged in the life of the community and was a source of ongoing support for the staff until the time of her death. 
Preceding Sister Dennis in death were her parents; her sisters, Jane Theisen, Kathleen Wilkum, Arline Fritz, Winifred Bogenski; her brother, Bernard C. O’Connor.

Sister is survived by her nieces, nephews, their families, and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 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 Dennis will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

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

Cremation will follow the service. Burial will take place on a later date in 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 O’Connor family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Sister Dennis.
Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.