Obituaries
Father Donald Francis Connelly, 83, joined his Heavenly Father after passing away at Mayo Clinic Hospice in Rochester on October 6, 2016. Fr. Don was born February 24, 1933, in Rochester to Leo and Mayme C o n n e l l y. He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona and completed his studies at St. Paul Seminary. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Winona on May 31, 1958, at St. John's Church in Rochester. During his seminary years, he spent summers at home farming with his dad Leo, uncle Chris, and brother Leo. Fr. Don served in eight parish assignments and as chaplain at St. Marys Hospital during his 58 years as a priest. He was an associate pastor of Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona and St. Catherine's Church in Luverne. He then served as pastor of St. Anthony in Lismore and Mission at St. Kilian, St. John Vianney in Fairmont, St. Mary's in Winona, St. Peter's in Rose Creek, Queen of Peace in Lyle, and St. Joachim's in Plainview. He was granted senior priest status on June 30, 2004.
From 2004-2007, he served as a priest chaplain at St. Elizabeth's Health Care Center in Wabasha. He also performed weekend ministries in local parishes and was involved in many other ministries for the Diocese. He served four years on the Priests' Advisory Council, eight years as a member of the board of directors for Catholic Charities, 10 years as a priest advocate on the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, as Chaplain for Teams of Our Lady, and for the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Don enjoyed traveling, golfing, and being with family and friends. As time allowed, he spent time on his family home farm west of Rochester, which held a special place in his heart. He is survived by his sisters, Sister MaryLou Connelly and Eunice (Alfred) Dols; nine nieces and nephews; and 16 great-nieces and greatnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Mayme Connelly; and brother, Leo (Marg) Connelly. Mass of Christian Burial was on October 11 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Rochester, with Bishop John M. Quinn celebrating and the priests of the Winona Diocese concelebrating. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
Sister Generose Gervais, 97, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our lady of Lourdes, Rochester, and former administrator of St. Marys Hospital, died at Mayo Clinic Hosptal, St. Marys campus, on October 7, 2016. Jeanne Rose Gervais was born to Philip F. and Elizabeth (Sandgathe) Gervais on September 18, 1919. She was one of seven children and grew up on the family farm near Currie. Following graduation from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Currie, she entered the Franciscan Sisters in 1938, receiving the name of Sister Generose. Sister Generose began her ministry as an elementary teacher. She went for further study and graduated in 1945 is a BS in Home Economics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, WI. She did her internship in dietetics at St. Marys Hospital, where she received a diploma in dietetics in 1948. From 1948 to 1951, Sister Generose served as co-director and instructor of the school of practical nursing and administrative dietician at St. Marys. Beginning in 1951, she served as administrative assistant at St. Marys and was a postgraduate student at the University of Minnesota, where she received a Masters in Hospital Administration in 1954. She continued to serve as an
assistant administrator and associate administrator of St. Marys until 1971 when she was named hospital administrator. Sister Generose served in this capacity from 1971 to 1981, and then as executive director from 1981 to 1985, after which she served as hospital consultant. She was president of the Poverello Foundation since its inception in 1984. During her years of ministry, she also served as consulting dietician at Mercy Hospital in Portsmouth, OH (1950-51), and as consultant in dietetics and hospital administration at San Ignacio Hospital in Bogotรก, Colombia (1966). Her service on boards, both as a member and as an officer, spanned over 30 years and included more than 20 organizations. Some of the prominent ones include St. Marys Hospital's board of trustees; Catholic Health Assocation, St. Louis, MO; Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce; First National Bank, Rochester; Federal Reserve Bank, Minneapolis; St. Francis Medical Center, LaCrosse, WI; Regina Medical Center, Hastings; Madonna Towers, Rochester; Olmsted County Historical Society; Senior Citizens Center board of directors, Rochester; Winona State University board of advisors; finance council and foundation board of the Diocese of Winona; Caledonia Health Care, Inc. board; Southeastern Minnesota Health Countil board; United Way of Olmsted County and Minnesota Conference of Catholic Health Care facilities board. Sister Generose has also been the recipient of numerous awards and
honors, the most significant of which is the naming of the Sister Generose Gervais Building, St. Marys Hospital (1991). Other awards include University of Wisconsin-Stout Alumni Distinguished Service Award (1978); Teresa of Avila Award, College of St. Teresa, Winona (1980); University of Minnesota Alumni Association (Rochester Chapter) Outstanding Achievement Award (1981); Rochester Woman of Achievement Award (1985); the Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice Medal (1985); Mayor's Medal of Honor, Rochester; Service to Mankind Award, Rochester Sertoma Club (1987); and the Catholic Health Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2011). In 1988, she became a Lady in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Sister Generose is survived by her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 78 years. Also surviving are her sisters Marian Manis of Woodland Hills, CA; Elizabeth Connors of Rochester; and Glenna (Francis) Boyle of Springfield; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Vincent and Hugh; and a sister, Julienne Mulligan. A Funeral Liturgy was held on October 18 in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, Rochester. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Poverello Foundation, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
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Dove Release Honors St. Francis ROCHESTER--On October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, students at St. Francis School participated in their annual peace dance and releasing of doves. Laura Smith, a communications specialist for the school, said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about our patron saint and follow his example of peacemaking, respect and dignity.
Catholic Daughters Support Confirmation Students SLAYTON--On September 11, Court Queen of Peace #1558, in support of local Confirmation students, served a retreat meal of barbecue sandwiches, fresh fruit and bars to the students, and then presented them with a religious CD recorded by IHM Seminary's Immaculate Heart Folk Band. Pictured are (back row) Catechist Jim Cowan;
students Tyler Penoyer, Brad Schreiber, Wyatt Staples, Nick Dierks, Ethan Clarke, Brady Woldt and John Sweetman; CDA Regent Joyce Risacher; (front row) students Matt McNab, Patrick Platt, Mary Doom, Kayla Bass, Mariah Beckmann and Michaela DeGreeff; Fr. Thien Nguyen and CDA Vice-regent Joann Halbur.
November, 2016 w The Courier