Obituaries
Sister Mary Emmanuel Fallenstein, SSND, 92, professed in 1948, died April 6, 2020, in Notre Dame Health Care, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato. A native of Mankato, she graduated from Good Counsel Academy in Mankato in 1945. She entered the SSND candidature that same year and professed first vows in 1948. She was an elementary grade teacher in several Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa Catholic schools, and also a pastoral minister. In the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, she taught at Ss. Peter & Paul School, Mankato (1975-83). She also served as a receptionist and transportation coordinator for the School Sisters of Notre Dame at Good Counsel. Following retirement from parish work, she worked in the sewing room at Good Counsel for many years. She is survived by her brother Gene and his family; her friends, colleagues and former students; and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Arvilla (Joanis) Fallenstein; her brother Joseph; and her sister, Margaret, who died as a young child. Because of the pandemic restrictions on public gatherings, the funeral for Sister Mary Emmanuel will be held at a later date.
In the Diocese
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Sister Ingrid Peterson, 84, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, died at Assisi Heights, June 28, 2020. Janet Peterson was born July 2, 1935, in Grantsburg, WI, to Elmer and Mary Grant Peterson. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1955 and made perpetual vows in 1961. Professional studies included a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, 1963; master’s degree in speech and public address from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1969; and a Ph.D. in English: medieval and renaissance literature from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1982. Sister Ingrid was a primary and secondary education teacher for 14 years. Upon completing further studies, she served as a college instructor in English for 11 years at the College of St. Teresa, Winona, and one year at Quincy University, Quincy, IL, after which she was an independent Scholar in Residence at Quincy University. From 1992 to 2017, she taught and shared her Franciscan Scholarship as adjunct professor at the Franciscan Institute, St. Bonaventure University, New York (1992+); Franciscan Studies staff at Tau Center, Winona (199298); adjunct professor at St. Francis College, Altoona, PA (1995+); Franciscan Scholar and parish volunteer while in residence in Minong, WI (1998-2013); and adjunct professor at the Franciscan International Study Centre, Canterbury, England (2002-05). Sister Ingrid stated that the most important event in her professional life was to receive, in 2000, the Franciscan Institute Medal which was established in 1987 to honor scholars who have made outstanding contributions to Franciscan Studies in the areas of theology, spirituality, philosophy and history. After retiring, Sister Ingrid moved to Assisi Heights in 2017. Throughout her life, Sister Ingrid published works of poetry, articles, and book reviews. Several books exist to which she contributed chapters, and others she
July 2020 w The Courier w dowr.org
co-authored. She published two books: Clare of Assisi: A Biographical Study and Keeping the Memory Green: Mother Alfred and the Sisters of St. Francis. Sister Ingrid is survived by her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 65 years; her brother Laurence (Joële) Peterson of San Diego, CA; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Gerald Peterson. A Memorial Liturgy will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.
Sister M. Andrea Zelenak, SSND, 90, professed in 1951, died July 4, 2020, in Notre Dame Health Care, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato. A native of Minneapolis, she graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1947. She entered the SSND candidature that same year and professed first vows in 1951. She was an elementary grade teacher and administrator in several Minnesota Catholic schools, and also a pastoral minister. In the Diocese of WinonaRochester, she taught at Sacred Heart School, Heron Lake (1951-53) and St. Peter School, Hokah (1955-56). Beginning in 1990, she served as pastoral minister and volunteer coordinator at Corpus Christi Parish, St. Paul, a position she held until 2007. She is survived by her nieces and nephews and their families; her friends, colleagues and former students; and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Mary (Varesinski) Zelenak; her sisters, Ann Flannery and Mary Zelenak; and her brother, Andrew. Because of the pandemic restrictions on public gatherings, the funeral for Sister Andrea will be held at a later date. Sister Valerie Kilian, 79, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, died at Mayo Clinic Hospital - Saint Marys Campus, July 11, 2020. Charleen Margaret Kilian was born June 6, 1941, in Chicago, IL, to Albert and Marie (Wagner) Kilian. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1959 and made perpetual vows in 1965. Professional studies included a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, 1964, and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Loyola University, Chicago, in 1989. She received a religious studies certificate from the College of St. Teresa in 1968 and also parish pastoral education training in Watertown, SD, in 1982. Sister Valerie taught 11 years in primary education at Queen of Angels School, Austin; St. James School, St. James; and Immaculate Conception School, Watertown, S.D. Following her years of teaching, Sister Valerie served as a pastoral minister at St. Joachim Parish, Plainview; St. Ann Parish, Slayton; and St. Mary Parish, Aspen, CO. At Assisi Heights, she ministered as a staff member of the Christian Community Center (1984-87) and as pastoral care coordinator (1989-92 and 2002-07). She was also a staff presenter and volunteer coordinator at Tau Center, Winona (1999-2002). For several years, Sister Valerie was a teacher’s assistant for Rochester Catholic Schools, provided services for Home Instead Senior Care and was a clinic companion for Sisters living at Assisi Heights. Sister Valerie is survived by her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 61 years, and several cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents. A Memorial Liturgy will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.
Keep a Good Thought By JEANETTE FORTIER
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s I continue my quarantine project of sorting through papers and photographs, two items have risen to the top of the pile. One is a photograph of a group of women, sitting at a long table in a parish social hall. Lots of smiles! Even Father was present for this CCW gathering. (If you don’t mind, I will leave out the names and location – to protect the innocent.) Many years later, when the parish president died, I was asked to sing for her funeral liturgy. I stopped into the sacristy to speak with the celebrant to make sure all directions were clear. I took my place for singing. The assembled mourners joined in the opening hymn and then Father spoke. “As we begin this funeral liturgy for Jeanette...” I don’t remember what else he said, I just know my name was mentioned two more times before an assisting priest corrected him. The men from the funeral home got a good laugh out of it. The rest of us were gasping. I realize now, that the deceased don’t get to hear their name spoken at their funeral. Now, I have a pretty good idea what it will sound like for me! The second item was a newspaper clipping. A recent “This Day in History” column in the Rochester Post-Bulletin gave a news item from the years 19001920: The Keep A Good Thought Club. You were to send your name, address and birth date to the Minneapolis Tribune. There were no other details about the organization. With the photograph and column sitting next to my computer, I keep a good thought of that parish president. A humble, hard-working mother of two, she took on the leadership of her parish CCW and with strength, led and encouraged her organization, always with a smile on her face. I keep a good thought of all the women in that photograph, remembering their hard work and the power of their prayers for parish members. In these days of uncertainty, the Keep A Good Thought Club, seems like a great idea! Keep a good thought that the Lord will help us through. Share a good thought with family and friends. Encourage a good thought for those suffering through trials. Bring to life a good thought about someone who has died. Speak their name. It will be a blessing! An additional note: the following events have been canceled for 2020 and re-scheduled: Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention – September, 2021 Province of St.Paul/Minneapolis Conference – June, 2021 – St. Augusta, MN National Council of Catholic Women National Convention – August, 2021 – Arlington, VA
Keep a good thought and plan to attend! If you would like a copy of our E-News online newsletter, contact me at fortierjeanette@gmail.com Jeanette Fortier is the president of the WinonaRochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.
