Her Own Story:
July 13, 1912 I was born in Madison, Nebraska becoming the seventh child of Albert (Anthony) Kirstine. A few days after birth I was baptized in St. Leonard's Catholic Church in Madison, Nebraska at which time I received my name Mary Ella.
March, 1917 my family moved to Spencer, I attended a large public school till I completed seventh grade. In 1925 we moved to Oakdale, Nebraska. Here I attended a country school for one year and received my eighth grade diploma at the country Courthouse in Neligh, Nebraska, May 1928. (N.B. All nuns are given the first name Mary).
The year 1927 was my turn to help Mother at home. It was a fun-filled year for me - parties, dances, oyster suppers and of course, a little help with the housework.
Quite suddently during the summer of 1928 I decided to enter the Convent at Mount St . Francis in Dubuque, Iowa. Never having attended a Catholic school, I knew absolutely nothing about a Sisters' life in a convent. It seems my woman's quest for knowledge and my desire to return to school prompted me to leave home at the early age of sixteen. Though it was very difficult to leave my wonderful parents and my big happy family, I have never regretted the Lord's call and my choice to follow. (Her sister Cecilia - Sister Mary Vernita, and Mary Ella - Sister Mary Vernice, entered the same convent at Dubuque at the same time).
I entered the Franciscan Community at Mount St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa, August 22, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1929, I was canonically received into the Franciscan Order and was given my religious name - Sister Mary Vernice.
Two years novitiate were spent in study of Religious Life and in preparation for teaching after which on August 10, 1931 I made temporary profession of vows into the Franciscan Order.
September 1931, I began my professional apostolate of teaching which remained my apostolate for forty-five years (most delightful years). I taught in schools in Iowa, Oregan and Illinois. During these years I continued my education at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa and Loras University in Dubuque, Iowa.
In 1976 I retired from teaching and took courses in Gerontology, Home and Hospital Visiting, Home Nursing and other courses in preparation for my new ministry in their homes. To make these visits it was necessary for me to learn to drive. Never having driven before and a little skeptical at age sixty-five, i took Drivers Education. In less than two weeks I received my Illinois Drivers License and I've been whizzing up and down the Avenues in chicagoland ever since, ministering to and praying with the homebound.
The year 1979 marked my Golden Year as a Franciscan Sister and it was, indeed, a year of joy and celebration with my Franciscan Comminity, with my relatives and my many friends.
Now in this happy year of 1980 I am enjoying good health and very happy as I continue serving God's people.
Sister Mary Vernice Kerstine.
Added on 2 Nov 2022 from FAG Contributor: rsmk (49851771):
The Witness Dubuque Iowa 14 Nov 2004
Sr Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF
Dubuque – The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF, 92 on Monday, Nov 8, in the Mount St Francis Chapel. She died on Thursday, Nov 4, at Holy Family Hall.
Mary Ella, daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Anthony) Kirstine, was born July 13, 1912, in Madison, Neb. She entered the Sisters of St Francis in Dubuque from Madison on Aug 21, 1931.
She taught in Sioux City, Meyer, Remsen, Dubuque (Sacred Heart), Waterloo (St Mary), Pocahontas, LaMotte, Webster City and Earlville, all in Iowa, Chicago, Ill; and Portland, Ore. She also serveda s pastoral minister in North Riverside, Ill and Portland, Ore.
She is survived by two sisters, Sister Vernita Kirstine and Catherine Golden. She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers: Albert, John, Lawrence, George, Martin, Jerome, Andrew, Fred, Leo ad Joseph; and a sister, Elizabeth.
Contributor: rsmk (49851771)
July 13, 1912 I was born in Madison, Nebraska becoming the seventh child of Albert (Anthony) Kirstine. A few days after birth I was baptized in St. Leonard's Catholic Church in Madison, Nebraska at which time I received my name Mary Ella.
March, 1917 my family moved to Spencer, I attended a large public school till I completed seventh grade. In 1925 we moved to Oakdale, Nebraska. Here I attended a country school for one year and received my eighth grade diploma at the country Courthouse in Neligh, Nebraska, May 1928. (N.B. All nuns are given the first name Mary).
The year 1927 was my turn to help Mother at home. It was a fun-filled year for me - parties, dances, oyster suppers and of course, a little help with the housework.
Quite suddently during the summer of 1928 I decided to enter the Convent at Mount St . Francis in Dubuque, Iowa. Never having attended a Catholic school, I knew absolutely nothing about a Sisters' life in a convent. It seems my woman's quest for knowledge and my desire to return to school prompted me to leave home at the early age of sixteen. Though it was very difficult to leave my wonderful parents and my big happy family, I have never regretted the Lord's call and my choice to follow. (Her sister Cecilia - Sister Mary Vernita, and Mary Ella - Sister Mary Vernice, entered the same convent at Dubuque at the same time).
I entered the Franciscan Community at Mount St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa, August 22, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1929, I was canonically received into the Franciscan Order and was given my religious name - Sister Mary Vernice.
Two years novitiate were spent in study of Religious Life and in preparation for teaching after which on August 10, 1931 I made temporary profession of vows into the Franciscan Order.
September 1931, I began my professional apostolate of teaching which remained my apostolate for forty-five years (most delightful years). I taught in schools in Iowa, Oregan and Illinois. During these years I continued my education at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa and Loras University in Dubuque, Iowa.
In 1976 I retired from teaching and took courses in Gerontology, Home and Hospital Visiting, Home Nursing and other courses in preparation for my new ministry in their homes. To make these visits it was necessary for me to learn to drive. Never having driven before and a little skeptical at age sixty-five, i took Drivers Education. In less than two weeks I received my Illinois Drivers License and I've been whizzing up and down the Avenues in chicagoland ever since, ministering to and praying with the homebound.
The year 1979 marked my Golden Year as a Franciscan Sister and it was, indeed, a year of joy and celebration with my Franciscan Comminity, with my relatives and my many friends.
Now in this happy year of 1980 I am enjoying good health and very happy as I continue serving God's people.
Sister Mary Vernice Kerstine.
Added on 2 Nov 2022 from FAG Contributor: rsmk (49851771):
The Witness Dubuque Iowa 14 Nov 2004
Sr Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF
Dubuque – The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF, 92 on Monday, Nov 8, in the Mount St Francis Chapel. She died on Thursday, Nov 4, at Holy Family Hall.
Mary Ella, daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Anthony) Kirstine, was born July 13, 1912, in Madison, Neb. She entered the Sisters of St Francis in Dubuque from Madison on Aug 21, 1931.
She taught in Sioux City, Meyer, Remsen, Dubuque (Sacred Heart), Waterloo (St Mary), Pocahontas, LaMotte, Webster City and Earlville, all in Iowa, Chicago, Ill; and Portland, Ore. She also serveda s pastoral minister in North Riverside, Ill and Portland, Ore.
She is survived by two sisters, Sister Vernita Kirstine and Catherine Golden. She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers: Albert, John, Lawrence, George, Martin, Jerome, Andrew, Fred, Leo ad Joseph; and a sister, Elizabeth.
Contributor: rsmk (49851771)
Her Own Story:
July 13, 1912 I was born in Madison, Nebraska becoming the seventh child of Albert (Anthony) Kirstine. A few days after birth I was baptized in St. Leonard's Catholic Church in Madison, Nebraska at which time I received my name Mary Ella.
March, 1917 my family moved to Spencer, I attended a large public school till I completed seventh grade. In 1925 we moved to Oakdale, Nebraska. Here I attended a country school for one year and received my eighth grade diploma at the country Courthouse in Neligh, Nebraska, May 1928. (N.B. All nuns are given the first name Mary).
The year 1927 was my turn to help Mother at home. It was a fun-filled year for me - parties, dances, oyster suppers and of course, a little help with the housework.
Quite suddently during the summer of 1928 I decided to enter the Convent at Mount St . Francis in Dubuque, Iowa. Never having attended a Catholic school, I knew absolutely nothing about a Sisters' life in a convent. It seems my woman's quest for knowledge and my desire to return to school prompted me to leave home at the early age of sixteen. Though it was very difficult to leave my wonderful parents and my big happy family, I have never regretted the Lord's call and my choice to follow. (Her sister Cecilia - Sister Mary Vernita, and Mary Ella - Sister Mary Vernice, entered the same convent at Dubuque at the same time).
I entered the Franciscan Community at Mount St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa, August 22, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1929, I was canonically received into the Franciscan Order and was given my religious name - Sister Mary Vernice.
Two years novitiate were spent in study of Religious Life and in preparation for teaching after which on August 10, 1931 I made temporary profession of vows into the Franciscan Order.
September 1931, I began my professional apostolate of teaching which remained my apostolate for forty-five years (most delightful years). I taught in schools in Iowa, Oregan and Illinois. During these years I continued my education at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa and Loras University in Dubuque, Iowa.
In 1976 I retired from teaching and took courses in Gerontology, Home and Hospital Visiting, Home Nursing and other courses in preparation for my new ministry in their homes. To make these visits it was necessary for me to learn to drive. Never having driven before and a little skeptical at age sixty-five, i took Drivers Education. In less than two weeks I received my Illinois Drivers License and I've been whizzing up and down the Avenues in chicagoland ever since, ministering to and praying with the homebound.
The year 1979 marked my Golden Year as a Franciscan Sister and it was, indeed, a year of joy and celebration with my Franciscan Comminity, with my relatives and my many friends.
Now in this happy year of 1980 I am enjoying good health and very happy as I continue serving God's people.
Sister Mary Vernice Kerstine.
Added on 2 Nov 2022 from FAG Contributor: rsmk (49851771):
The Witness Dubuque Iowa 14 Nov 2004
Sr Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF
Dubuque – The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF, 92 on Monday, Nov 8, in the Mount St Francis Chapel. She died on Thursday, Nov 4, at Holy Family Hall.
Mary Ella, daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Anthony) Kirstine, was born July 13, 1912, in Madison, Neb. She entered the Sisters of St Francis in Dubuque from Madison on Aug 21, 1931.
She taught in Sioux City, Meyer, Remsen, Dubuque (Sacred Heart), Waterloo (St Mary), Pocahontas, LaMotte, Webster City and Earlville, all in Iowa, Chicago, Ill; and Portland, Ore. She also serveda s pastoral minister in North Riverside, Ill and Portland, Ore.
She is survived by two sisters, Sister Vernita Kirstine and Catherine Golden. She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers: Albert, John, Lawrence, George, Martin, Jerome, Andrew, Fred, Leo ad Joseph; and a sister, Elizabeth.
Contributor: rsmk (49851771)
July 13, 1912 I was born in Madison, Nebraska becoming the seventh child of Albert (Anthony) Kirstine. A few days after birth I was baptized in St. Leonard's Catholic Church in Madison, Nebraska at which time I received my name Mary Ella.
March, 1917 my family moved to Spencer, I attended a large public school till I completed seventh grade. In 1925 we moved to Oakdale, Nebraska. Here I attended a country school for one year and received my eighth grade diploma at the country Courthouse in Neligh, Nebraska, May 1928. (N.B. All nuns are given the first name Mary).
The year 1927 was my turn to help Mother at home. It was a fun-filled year for me - parties, dances, oyster suppers and of course, a little help with the housework.
Quite suddently during the summer of 1928 I decided to enter the Convent at Mount St . Francis in Dubuque, Iowa. Never having attended a Catholic school, I knew absolutely nothing about a Sisters' life in a convent. It seems my woman's quest for knowledge and my desire to return to school prompted me to leave home at the early age of sixteen. Though it was very difficult to leave my wonderful parents and my big happy family, I have never regretted the Lord's call and my choice to follow. (Her sister Cecilia - Sister Mary Vernita, and Mary Ella - Sister Mary Vernice, entered the same convent at Dubuque at the same time).
I entered the Franciscan Community at Mount St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa, August 22, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1928. After a year of preparation on June 20, 1929, I was canonically received into the Franciscan Order and was given my religious name - Sister Mary Vernice.
Two years novitiate were spent in study of Religious Life and in preparation for teaching after which on August 10, 1931 I made temporary profession of vows into the Franciscan Order.
September 1931, I began my professional apostolate of teaching which remained my apostolate for forty-five years (most delightful years). I taught in schools in Iowa, Oregan and Illinois. During these years I continued my education at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa and Loras University in Dubuque, Iowa.
In 1976 I retired from teaching and took courses in Gerontology, Home and Hospital Visiting, Home Nursing and other courses in preparation for my new ministry in their homes. To make these visits it was necessary for me to learn to drive. Never having driven before and a little skeptical at age sixty-five, i took Drivers Education. In less than two weeks I received my Illinois Drivers License and I've been whizzing up and down the Avenues in chicagoland ever since, ministering to and praying with the homebound.
The year 1979 marked my Golden Year as a Franciscan Sister and it was, indeed, a year of joy and celebration with my Franciscan Comminity, with my relatives and my many friends.
Now in this happy year of 1980 I am enjoying good health and very happy as I continue serving God's people.
Sister Mary Vernice Kerstine.
Added on 2 Nov 2022 from FAG Contributor: rsmk (49851771):
The Witness Dubuque Iowa 14 Nov 2004
Sr Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF
Dubuque – The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Sister Mary Vernice Kirstine, OSF, 92 on Monday, Nov 8, in the Mount St Francis Chapel. She died on Thursday, Nov 4, at Holy Family Hall.
Mary Ella, daughter of the late Albert and Mary (Anthony) Kirstine, was born July 13, 1912, in Madison, Neb. She entered the Sisters of St Francis in Dubuque from Madison on Aug 21, 1931.
She taught in Sioux City, Meyer, Remsen, Dubuque (Sacred Heart), Waterloo (St Mary), Pocahontas, LaMotte, Webster City and Earlville, all in Iowa, Chicago, Ill; and Portland, Ore. She also serveda s pastoral minister in North Riverside, Ill and Portland, Ore.
She is survived by two sisters, Sister Vernita Kirstine and Catherine Golden. She was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers: Albert, John, Lawrence, George, Martin, Jerome, Andrew, Fred, Leo ad Joseph; and a sister, Elizabeth.
Contributor: rsmk (49851771)
Inscription
Sister Mary Vernice
Kirstine O.S.F. (Order of Saint Francis)
1912 + 2004
