DUBUQUE — Five Sisters of Charity, BVM, with ties to the Diocese of Davenport will celebrate 75 years in religious life this fall. This year the jubilarian group also includes sisters celebrating 73, 72 and 70 years.
They are among 29 diamond jubilarians who will gather in the Mount Carmel Motherhouse Chapel in Dubuque Sept. 11 for a liturgy of thanksgiving.
Sister Rose André Koehler, BVM
Sr. Koehler was born in Boone, Iowa, and entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1943. She professed first vows on March 19, 1946, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1951. Sr. Koehler was principal at St. Paul the Apostle in Davenport. She taught elementary and junior high school and was principal in Dubuque and Des Moines, Iowa; Chicago; Butte, Mont.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Stockton, Calif. She served as teacher aide/tutor in Montgomery, Ala. Sister is retired and lives in Dubuque.
Sister Mary Enid Lodding, BVM
Sr. Lodding was born in Chicago and entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1944. She professed first vows on March 19, 1947, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1952. In Iowa, sister taught at St. Paul the Apostle in Davenport and St. Mathias in Muscatine, and served in religious education ministry at the Catholic student center and in parish ministry at St. Thomas More Center, both in Iowa City. In Illinois, she taught elementary school in Rock Island, East Moline and Chicago, served as pastoral associate in Arlington Heights, and as director of religious education in Addison. She also taught elementary school in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Seattle. Sister is retired and lives in Dubuque.
Sister Mary McElmeel, BVM (Eugenne)
Sr. McElmeel was born in Delhi, Iowa, and entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1944. She professed first vows on March 19, 1947, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1952. She taught at St. Paul the Apostle in Davenport. She taught elementary school in Chicago; San Francisco and Glendale, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; and Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She served as assistant novice mistress and assistant administrator and administrator for the Mount Carmel Motherhouse in Dubuque, where she also ministered as pastoral associate. She volunteered in Hispanic parish ministry in Kankakee, Ill. Sister is retired and lives/volunteers in Dubuque.
Sister Janita Curoe, BVM
Sr. Curoe was born in Bernard, Iowa, and entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946. She professed first vows on March 19, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954. Sr. Curoe taught elementary school and was principal at St. Paul the Apostle and Sacred Heart Cathedral schools in Davenport. She taught elementary school and was principal in Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Clarksdale and Jackson, Miss. She served as county literacy coordinator, volunteer tutor and specialist tutor in Canton, Miss. Sister is retired and lives in Dubuque.
Sister Margaret Devereux, BVM (Williamette)
Sr. Devereux was born in Chicago and entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946. She professed first vows on March 19, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954. She taught elementary school at St. Mary in Clinton. She taught elementary school and was principal in Chicago and Wilmington, Ill.; Chattanooga and Nashville, Tenn.; and San Francisco. She was parish director of religious education in Cleveland, Tenn., and served as administrator for the BVM congregation in Chicago and as volunteer tutor in Oak Park, Ill. Sister is retired and lives in Dubuque.
To send a congratulatory message to a sister on her jubilee or to donate to the BVM congregation on behalf of these sisters, please go to www.bvmcong.org/whatsnew_jubs.cfm.
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