SUMMER 2013
Sister Mary Gallagher, served at a Hispanic parish in Hardeeville, South Carolina. After working there for some time, she opened a thrift shop with proceeds going to help the poor of Jasper County. Sister Lupe’s generous spirit defined her 29 years of service.
Sister Mary Laurentia Cerovac, RSM, age 105 October 29, 1907 to April 20, 2013
As the eldest member of the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community and the eldest member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Sister Laurentia Cerovac’s legacy of service is extraordinary. For 55 of her 88 years of ministry, Sister Laurentia taught in elementary schools in the Omaha area, including Father Flanagan’s Home for Boys, St. John, St. Wenceslaus, and St. Ann. During the 1930s she also served at St. James Orphanage in Omaha. Sister Laurentia also briefly taught in Friend, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Kansas City and Marshall, Missouri. In 1965, Sister Laurentia gave up teaching for convent duties at Mercy High School in Omaha. During this time, she began a new home/hospital visiting program with Servite Sister Mary Joseph, tutored at Mercy Tutoring Station, and taught religion classes. Sister Laurentia particularly enjoyed working with Native American students after earning her certification in Indian Studies from Wayne State College-Nebraska. In her spare time, she assisted her close friend, Sister Theodore Jensen, with St. Catherine Hospital alumnae functions. Sister Laurentia officially retired in 1993, dedicating her last 20 years of life to ministry through prayer. Her sense of humor and loyalty to all, especially the Nebraska Cornhuskers, will be remembered by those whose lives she touched.
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Sister Mary Lucilla Conway, RSM, age 88 August 21, 1924 to May 11, 2013
Sister Mary Lucilla Conway entered the Sisters of Mercy 71 years ago to begin a lifetime of service in education. Even as she prepared for her final profession of vows in 1948, Sister Lucilla was teaching elementary students in parishes and studying at Saint Xavier College in Chicago. Throughout her 23 years in the classroom, she taught a variety of grade levels. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in education, Sister Lucilla also held a master’s in theology and an advanced certificate in administration from the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 1968 she was named principal of St. Catherine of Genoa School, where she served for 13 years before moving into parish work at St. Kilian Parish. Her later years were spent as a substitute teacher and office assistant at Mother McAuley High School. Sister Lucilla will be fondly remembered for her joyful nature that stemmed from her ability to live “As Mary Would.”
Sister Mary Raymunda Crownhart, RSM, age 99 September 5, 1913 to May 31, 2013
As a Sister of Mercy for 73 years, Sister Mary Raymunda Crownhart spent a great majority of her ministry serving in healthcare education and administration. During the first decade of her religious life, Sister Mary Raymunda served as the supervisor and assistant director of nursing at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit, and as a director of the school of nursing and nursing services for Leila Hospital in Battle Creek, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Mason City, and St. Joseph CONTINUED ON PAGE 38