Sister Consolata Wolking, 1930-2006
Born February 5, 1930, Covington, Kentucky
Entered St. Walburg Monastery, August 15, 1947
First Profession June 30, 1949
Died June 8, 2006
Sr. Consolata Wolking was born Antoinette Frances, the youngest of six daughters of Charles and Antoinette Mueller Wolking. All six of the Wolking girls became members of St. Walburg Monastery. Anne entered St. Walburg Monastery on August 15, 1947 and received the habit and her new name Consolata on June 29, 1948.
Sr. Consolata was active in health and related ministries throughout her monastic life. She obtained her RN in 1953 and served at St. Joseph Hospital, Florence, Colorado; Mount Mary Hospital, Hazard, Kentucky; Sante Fe Hospital, La Junta, Colorado, and Estill County Hospital, Irvine, Kentucky.
From 1965-1974 Sr. Consolata was a surgical nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital. In 1978 she became licensed in Enterostomal Therapy. Her personal experience in this area enhanced her skill. Sr. Consolata established an E.T. Department at Providence Hospital in Cincinnati and then continued in freelance work, working with Schwartz Drugs in Florence. She was frequently called upon to give talks or workshops, particularly in the area of ostomy. She received a recognition certificate in 1992 for outstanding service in the care of ostomates. She visited most area hospitals and nursing homes as well as the homes of her patients.
Family was important to Sr. Consolata and she joined her other five sisters as they gathered for Sunday afternoons together and holiday parties.
Sr. Consolata’s fragility necessitated frequent trips to the hospital for various reasons and then to the monastery infirmary for recuperation, but she always bounced back. In her last years she became a permanent infirmary resident. Early this year she underwent difficult surgery and the prognosis was not favorable. After her return to the monastery her condition fluctuated. In March she seemed close to death but rallied. On June 5, 2006 she took a definite turn for the worse. Finally her sufferings ended on June 8. Her siblings Srs. Mercedes and Mary Anne preceded her in death. Her siblings Srs. Teresa, Amelia and Charles survive her.