A woman who was instrumental in major growth and expansion of programs for the elderly at St. Mary’s/Felician Village has died.
Sister Mary Claude was 89 at the time of her death the morning of December 22nd at the Felician Sisters Motherhouse in Chicago.
Frank Soltys, current President and CEO in Manitowoc, tells Seehafer News that Sister Claude professed her vows in 1962 and then was assigned to St. Mary’s Home.
She would become the administrator later that year and served in the capacity until 2001.
Soltys praised her leadership for providing a campus of opportunities for seniors.
“She was a visionary but she also really cleared the way for these things to happen,” he explained. “And did it in a firm way but certainly in a very respectful way as well. You know it’s not always easy to move the dial when things have been ingrained in a community for awhile.”
We also spoke with the Marketing Director at Felician Village is Barb Fricke, who retold a quote by Sister Claude.
“We all need to feel that we are of worth and that others think highly of us. This is doubly true for the elderly for there is a tendency for them to feel they have outgrown their usefulness. However their bodily functions may have weakened, but their emotional needs remain fairly constant.”
The funeral is set to take place today in the Mother of Good Counsel Convent Chapel at 3800 Peterson Avenue in Chicago.
Visitation is from 9:00 AM until the time of the funeral mass at 11:00 AM.
