In Memoriam

Sister Charles Wolking 1924-2021 Born December 10, 1924 Entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1942 Received habit in 1943 Died February 3, 2021    Sister Charles Wolking was born on December 10, 1924 to Charles and Antoinette Mueller Wolking and named Jeanne Therese. She was the fourth of six girls, all of whom became Benedictine Sisters of St. Walburg Monastery. Jeanne Wolking entered the monastery in 1942. She became a novice in 1943 and received the name Sister Charles. First profession followed in 1944 and perpetual profession in 1947. Sister Charles celebrated her silver jubilee in 1969, her golden in 1994, and her diamond in 2004. [...]

Sister Rita Bilz 1926-2021 Born July 6, 1926 Entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1959 Received habit in 1960 Died February 3,  2021    Sister Rita Bilz was born on July 6, 1926 to John Lawrence and Margaret Foltz Bilz. Rita Philomena was the fifth of six children, the youngest of whom died as an infant. The family were members of Holy Guardian Angels Church in Sandfordtown, KY where Rita attended the parish school. While living at home, Rita kept a garden which reflected her love for order. She liked to keep things “neat as a pin”. Always a spiritual person, she had a grotto [...]

Sister Joan Gripshover 1942-2020 Born June 9, 1942 Entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1961 Received habit in 1962 Died March 30, 2020    Sister Joan Gripshover was born on June 9, 1942 to Aloysius and Anna Gripshover and named Patricia Gertrude. She was the second of eight children, two sisters and five brothers. Patricia was a graduate of St. Henry High School and a twelve-year student there. She entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1961. She became a novice in 1962 and received the name Joan. First profession followed in 1963 and perpetual profession in 1968. Sr. Joan celebrated her silver [...]

Sister Estelle Schulte, 1926-2019  Born September 30, 1926 Received habit, 1946 First Profession, 1947 Died December 10, 2019   Sister Estelle Schulte was born on September 30, 1926 to Norbert and Irene Faust Schulte and named Mary Catherine. She was the third of five children, three brothers and one sister, all of whom are deceased. Mary Catherine was a graduate of Holy Cross High School and entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1945. She became a novice in 1946 and received the name Estelle. First profession followed in 1947 and perpetual profession in 1950. Sister Estelle celebrated her silver jubilee in 1972, [...]

Sister Cecilia Daigle 1931-2018 Born December 17, 1931 Entered St. Scholastica Priory, Covington, Louisiana August 25, 1948 Received Habit August 17, 1949 Made First Profession January 14, 1951 Transferred Profession of Stability to St. Walburg Monastery August 1, 1992 Died August 8, 2018 Sister Cecilia Daigle was born in New Orleans, LA on December 17, 1931 to Richard and Mary Lamy Daigle and named Claire Ann. She was the fifth of five children, having one brother and three sisters. One sister is still living. Claire attended high school at St. Mary’s Dominican and St. Scholastica Academy, each for two years. After [...]

Sister Helen Hergot 1936-2018 Born June 7, 1936 Yosemite, California Entered St. Walburg Monastery August 15, 1954 Received Habit July 2, 1955 Made First Profession August 24, 1956 Died December 27, 2018 Sister Helen Hergott was born in Yosemite, California on June 7, 1936 to H. Stanley and Esther Bramlage Hergott. She was the oldest of three daughters. After the death of her mother, her father married Gabriella Blau, who brought her two sons and one daughter into the joined family. Helen graduated from St. Henry High School in 1954 and entered St. Walburg Monastery that August. She became a novice [...]

Sister Justina Franxman 1928-2019 Born April 23, 1923 in Newport, Kentucky Entered St. Walburg Monastery September 8, 1948 Received Habit June 30, 1949 First Profession August 24, 1950 Died March 4, 2019 Sister Justina Franxman was born on April 23, 1928 and adopted by J. Herman and Elizabeth Gripshover Franxman in October of 1929. Mary Louise gained three brothers upon her adoption. She cherished the years she worked in the family grocery with her parents and brothers. Mary entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1948. She became a novice in 1949 and received the name Sister Justina. First profession followed in 1950 [...]

Sister Esther O'Hara, 1929-2018 Born December 14, 1929 in Covington, Kentucky Entered St. Walburg Monastery September 7, 1947 Received habit June 29, 1948 First Profession June 30, 1949 Died January 31, 2018         Sister Esther O’Hara was born on December 14, 1929 to William and Marie Wischer O’Hara and named Laverne. She was one of seven children, having two sisters and four brothers. One sister died as an infant. After graduation from St. Henry High School Laverne entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1947. She became a novice in 1948 and received the name Sister Esther. First profession followed in 1949 and [...]

Sister Martha Feder, 1924-2018 Born February 4, 1924 in Latonia, Kentucky Entered St. Walburg Monastery August 15, 1942 Received habit, June 29, 1943 First Profession, June 30, 1944 Died July 14, 2018         Sr. Martha Feder, OSB was born on February 4, 1924 and named Loretta Margaret. She was the third of five children born to Alphous Franklin and Margaret C. Jennings Feder. Her four siblings, two boys and two girls, have predeceased her.      Sr. Martha grew up in Latonia, KY and attended Holy Cross for all twelve grades. She entered St. Walburg Monastery following high school graduation on August 15, [...]

Sister Philomena Rarreick, 1930-2018 Born June 7, 1930 in Falmouth, Kentucky Entered St. Walburg Monastery December 8, 1948 Received habit, June 27, 1950 First Profession, August 24, 1951 Died January 16, 2018        Sister Philomena Rarreick was born on June 6, 1930 to Sidney and Laura McElfresh Rarreick near Falmouth, KY. Named Sarretta, she was the youngest of four children. Lavonne and Eupha, her sisters, and Vincent, her brother, are deceased. Sarretta’s mother Laura died in 1935, and all four children lived and were educated at St. John’s Orphanage. Sarretta was baptized there in 1937. She entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1949 [...]