Sister Catherine Coupé was born on September 4, 1915, in Rulo, Nebraska, the sixth of seven children of Richard S. and Josephine Ellen Miller Coupé. She was baptized Catherine Rosalia on September 6, 1915, at Immaculate Conception Church in Rulo. She had one brother, Stephen, and five sisters, Mary, Margaret, Ann, Agnes and Cecilia, all of whom are deceased.

Catherine Rosalia attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Rulo, and graduated from Mount St. Clare Academy in 1931.

She entered the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent, Clinton, Iowa, on December 8, 1928, and received the name Mary Scholastica at her reception on September 8, 1930, later resuming her baptismal name. She made her first profession on September 8, 1932, and her final profession on June 13, 1937. Her novitiate classmates were Sisters Laurita Morehead, Bertha Zeiser, Mark Hayne, Aloysius Leonard, Helene McConohy, Monica Rice, Imogene Thoma, Mary Lacy, André Gehant, Thomasella Walsh, Aidan Ryan and Leonard Temple.

Sister Catherine earned an Associate of Arts degree from Mount St. Clare College; a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa; a Master of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D. C., with a concentration in Spanish and Latin American History and a Master of Arts in Romance Languages from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. She also studied at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois. She pursued advanced studies in Spanish at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, and spent a year doing archival research in Seville and Madrid, Spain. She held Iowa Elementary and Secondary Permanent Professional Teaching Certificates.

Sister Catherine spent most of her 53 years of active ministry as a Spanish instructor at Mount St. Clare College, from 1959 to 1989. After withdrawing from classroom teaching, she offered private instruction in Spanish. Prior to teaching in college, she taught elementary and junior high school students in Perry and Denison, Iowa, St. Boniface School in Clinton, and St. Patrick School, St. Patrick, Missouri. She also taught for fifteen years at St. Francis de Paula School, Chicago, Illinois.

Sister Catherine retired to Mount St. Clare Convent in 1990 and lived at The Canticle from 1997 until August, 2009 when she moved to The Alverno. She died at The Alverno on September 1, 2009.

Sister Mary Jane Hopkins was born on October 24, 1936, in Ida Grove, Iowa, the second of four children of Lazetta Konradi and James Earl Hopkins. She was baptized Mary Jane Angela on November 15, 1936, at Sacred Heart Church, in Ida Grove. She has two brothers and one sister. James Francis lives in Wall Lake, Iowa; Joseph (and Susan) live in Burnside, Minnesota; and Margaret Teague lives in Wall Lake, Iowa. Her parents are deceased.

Mary Jane attended Blaine Twp., Ida Grove, and Cook Twp. elementary schools, and graduated from Galva Consolidated High School, Galva, Iowa. Following graduation, she worked in the dietary departments in hospitals in Carroll, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska.

She joined the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa, at Mount St. Clare Convent, Clinton, on September 8, 1961, and received the name Mary James Ann at her reception on June 13, 1962, later resuming her baptismal name. She made her first profession on August 12, 1964, and her final profession on August 12, 1967. Her novitiate classmates were Sisters Miriam Rose (Ellen Mishur), Mary Blaise (Mary Ann Adams), LaVern Olberding, Mary Carmel Jacobs, Mary Winefride (Mary Jane O’Malley), Jude Mary (Patricia Moran), Mary Vianney (Geraldine Agnew), Mary Angeline (Barbara Batista), Barbara Rosener, and Elizabeth Ann (Mary Catherine Luchtel).

Sister Mary Jane earned an A.A. degree from Mount St. Clare College, Clinton; a B. A. degree from Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa; an M. Ed. degree from De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois. She received her C.P.E.-USCC (Clinical Pastoral Education) from St. Francis Medical Center, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and her C.P.E.-ACPE, Mercy Hospital Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa. She held an Iowa Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate, and an Illinois Supervisor’s Certificate.

Sister Mary Jane taught in elementary schools in Perry, Lidderdale, and Denison, Iowa; Chino, California; Oak Lawn, Illinois; and was principal at St. Kieran School, Chicago Heights, Illinois. She was in hospital ministry at Mercy Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa, since the early 1980’s and most recently served as Lead Cashier.

She moved to The Alverno in February, 2009, due to ill health. She died at The Alverno June 21, 2009.

Services for Sister Mary Jane Hopkins OSF at The Canticle
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Rosary, 4:00 P.M.
Scripture Service, 6:30 P.M.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Mass of the Resurrection, 10:30 A.M.
Rev. John Stack, presider
Burial, St. Irenaeus Cemetery, Clinton, Iowa

I have never stopped thanking God for you and recommending you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:16

Wake Reflection for Sister Mary Jane Hopkins

The forward movement into God that Clare describes is a movement that begins in this life and endures unto eternal life. However, it is also leaving behind the fragrance of the Spirit that shapes our lives. Death is not the final end of our existence, but rather the opening up of our full personalities in the universe. What we impart to the world upon our deaths is not our writing or books or worldly treasures, but the spiritual fragrance of our lives.

We are asked to continue the Incarnation, to allow the word of God to take root within us, to allow it to become enfleshed in us. The Incarnation is not finished; it is not yet fully complete for it is to be complete in us.

…how we go forth into God, influences the spiritual energy of love we bequeath to the world.

As death shatters the vessels of our earthly bodies, our spirits are released into the universe to help shape it anew in Christ through the power of memory and presence. We are coworkers with God, helping to build up the Body of Christ, not only in our earthly lives, but even more so in eternal life. Our forward movement into God through faith, hope and love is a “leaving behind,” a bequeathing of our christified spirits to the world so that others may be drawn into the mystery of Christ.

What Clare’s spirituality helps us to realize is that, while our individual lives may seem insignificant in view of the immensity of the universe, each of us has a unique part to play in the unfolding of God’s mystery in creation. It is the Spirit, the weaver of life in creation, who takes the threads of our lives and weaves them into a quilt of many colors that clothes the Body of Christ in the universe. The work of the Spirit clothing the Body of Christ in creation is a movement of love.

Taken from: “Clare of Assisi, A Heart Full of Love ,” Ilia Delio OSF, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2007

O loving God, our creator, the death of our sister Mary Jane recalls our human condition and the time we have on earth. For those who believe in your love, death is not the end, nor does it destroy the bonds that you forge in our lives. We know you look kindly upon our sister We give thanks for her life, for her love of her family and her community, and for her 48 years of faithfulness to God as a Clinton Franciscan, serving as educator, pastoral care minister and cashier. We are grateful for her kindness, her humility and her desire to be of service Bring the light of Christ's resurrection to this time of mourning as we pray in thanksgiving for Sister Mary Jane and for those who love her, through Christ our Lord. Amen

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Mary Madonna Gilloon Smith, beloved mother and grandmother, ended her earthly days quietly and peacefully on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009, at The Alverno in Clinton, Iowa. Mary and her husband, Tom, were Associates of the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, since 1999. Thomas was laid to rest on July 27, 2004. Mary lived at The Canticle from January, 2005, until moving to The Alverno in November, 2008.

Mary Madonna was born in Dyersville, Iowa, on May 9, 1923, to Dr. Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Fitzgerald) Gilloon. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School, Dyersville, Iowa, in 1941; from St. Joseph’s Mercy School of Nursing in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1944, and from Loras College, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1946. During her time in Dubuque, she was an instructor at the Mercy School of Nursing. Mary and Tom were married at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa, on October 2, 1948. Together they raised their family in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Iowa. In 1976, Mary resumed her career as a nurse with the Visiting Nurses Association, Clinton. She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish, Clinton, for 50 years, of the St. Mary’s Altar & Rosary Society.

Mary was also preceded in death by her parents, one son, Daniel A. Smith, one grandson, Paul Schumacher, her brother, Thomas J. Gilloon, J.D., a nephew, Thomas J. Gilloon, Jr., J.D., and her son-in-law, Steven Schumacher, and several cousins including Clinton Franciscan Sister Baptist and Sister Baptista Fitzgerald and Sister Denise Ferrie.

She is survived by her children, M. Patrice Golinvaux, Mark T. Smith (Pamela), David J. Smith (Margaret), M. Terese Schumacher, Stephen J. Smith (Mary), Michael J. Smith, Thomas J. Smith (Lisa), Peter J. Smith (Eileen). M. Anne Kruse (Tim), M. Kathleen Marlowe (Scott), and M. Madonna Smith (Freedom Nicholas Parker). She is also survived by thirty grandchildren, five great grandchildren, six nieces, two nephews, and eight great nieces and nephews.

The Sisters and Associates from the Clinton area led the Rosary at 3:30 p.m., Friday afternoon, June 26, prior to the visitation at the funeral home in Clinton. Mass of Christian Burial was at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, June 27, 2009, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Clinton. Rev. Anthony J. Herold, pastor, presided. Burial was at St. Irenaeus Cemetery, Clinton. Mary’s sons carried her to her final resting place.

Memorials may be made to the Prince of Peace Education Foundation for Financial Need, and the Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa

Sister Mary Teresa Ruggle was born on March 13, 1928, in Conception, Missouri, the second of the nine children of Alphonse O. and Stella Maria McCann Ruggle. She was baptized Mary Teresa on March 13, 1928, at Immaculate Conception Church in Conception. She had 3 brothers and 5 sisters. Joseph (and Arva) live in Perry, Iowa; Leo (and Rosemary) in Northfield, Minnesota; Ruth and Helen Ruggle live in Perry, Iowa; and Clarita Penczek lives in Joliet, Illinois. The other family members, Philip, Cecelia, and Margaret are deceased.

Mary Teresa attended Immaculate Conception Parochial School in Conception, and graduated from St. Patrick High School in Perry, Iowa in 1947.

She joined the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent, Clinton, Iowa, on September 12, 1947, and received the name Mary Bernarda at her reception on June 19, 1948, later resuming her baptismal name. She made her first profession on August 12, 1950, and her final profession on August 12, 1953. Her novitiate classmate was Sister Yvonne Gehant.

Sister Mary Teresa obtained an A. A. degree from Mount St. Clare College, Clinton, in 1950, and her B. A. degree from Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa, in 1958. She earned an M. A. degree in Secondary School Administration from the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1967, and an M. A. degree in Library Science from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, in 1971. She also studied at the University of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, and at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska.

She held an Iowa Elementary and Secondary Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate, as well as Nebraska Supervisory and Administrative certification.

Sister Mary Teresa spent most of her active ministry as a teacher and librarian. She began her teaching career in the primary grades at Sacred Heart School, Clinton, Iowa, 1950-1954. She subsequently taught junior high and high school students in Varina and Victor, Iowa; in Rochelle and Chicago, Illinois; and in Lexington, Nebraska where she also served as Principal.

After obtaining her Library Science degree, she served as librarian at Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa, 1971-1976; Mount St. Clare College, 1976-1980; and at Mater Dei High School, Clinton, Iowa, 1980-1987. In 1988, she began serving as librarian at St. LaSalle School, Reedley, California until 1997 when she returned to Iowa. She lived at The Canticle and assisted in the Congregation’s communication office until retiring in 2004. She moved to The Alverno in April, 2008. She died there on Tuesday morning, January 27, 2009.

Sister Mary Helen was born on March 26, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, the eldest of six children of John James and Catherine Curley O'Malley. She was baptized Helen Marie on April 8, 1917, at St. Joachim Church in Chicago. She had three brothers, John, Robert and Thomas, and a sister, Catherine (Kay), who are deceased. Her sister, Noreen Garry, lives in Oak Forest, Illinois. Sister Helen also is survived by nieces and nephews.

Helen Marie attended Cornell Public and St. Francis de Paula Elementary schools in Chicago, and graduated from Visitation High School, Chicago, in 1935.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent, Clinton, Iowa, on September 8, 1936, and retained her baptismal name, Helen, at her reception on April 6, 1937. She made her first profession on June 10, 1939, and her final profession on June 10, 1942. Her novitiate classmates were Sisters Mary Sheila Dooley, Angelica Ryan and Colette Kelly.

Sister Helen received her A. A. degree from Mount St. Clare College, Clinton, in 1942, and her Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from Marymount College, Salina, Kansas, in 1947. She completed her internship at St. Mary Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, in 1948. She held an Iowa State Dietetic License and Registration with The American Dietetic Association.

Sister Helen spent most of her 45 years of active ministry in food service. Prior to beginning her dietetic studies, she taught for three years at St. Patrick School, Clinton, Iowa. She was head dietician at Mercy Hospital, Burlington, Iowa, from 1948 to 1950, and at St. Francis Hospital, Macomb, Illinois, for six years. Returning to Clinton, she provided for the dietary needs of the students at Mount St. Clare Academy and College and for the Sisters of St. Francis at Mount St. Clare Convent for 21 years. Most recently, from 1977 to 1989, she served as dietician at The Alverno Health Care Facility in Clinton.

Sister Helen retired at Mount St. Clare Convent in 1990 and lived at The Canticle from 1997 until October, 2008, when she moved to The Alverno. She died there at 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2008.