In Memoriam

Sister La Donna Marie Pinkelman, OSF

Sister La Donna Marie Pinkelman died at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio on November 19, 2022. She came to the convent in Sylvania in 1955 from St. Elizabeth Parish in Berkey, Ohio, attended St. Clare Academy and made her First Profession of Vows in 1961 and her Final Vows in 1966.

During her 61 years as a Syslvania Franciscan, she served the People of God in a variety of ministries. She taught for 15 years in elementary schools in Minnesota and Ohio. For eight years she served in Religious Education in parishes, worked for 12 years in hospital pastoral care and was Director of Mission Integration at Providence Care Center and the Commons in Sandusky, Ohio. She was also involved in retreat work and spiritual direction at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in Sylvania. Sister recorded her many interesting life experiences through her writing of prayers, prose and poetry which a friend had published for her in two small books entitled Franciscan Flowers, Poetry, Prose and Prayer, volume I & II.

Sister Marie Andrée Chorzempa, OSF

Sister Marie Andrée Chorzempa died at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio on February 8, 2023. She came to the convent from Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1939. She made her First Profession in 1945 and her Final Vows in 1948.

Sister Marie Andrée readily assumed many roles over her 77 plus years of service in the Church. With her keen intellect and gentle spirit, she was involved in education from elementary school to high school to college. She held several positions at Lourdes College as teacher, Planetarium Director, Registrar and Academic Dean. She was the President of Lourdes College from 1981-1983.

She was involved in the formation of new members, served as Councilor on the Leadership Team for two terms and as Minister General for two terms. She later worked in parishes in pastoral care, as Vice-President of Mission Integration in one of the Community’s medical centers and then was able to work with disadvantaged children on an Indian Reservation in New Mexico.

In 2004, Sister wrote the history of the Congregation for its upcoming 90th Anniversary in 2006, resulting in Witness to Life in the Spirit, A Theological Reflection on the History of the Sisters.

Read more about these Sisters or send a Jubilee Gift by visiting sistersosf.org

In 2006, Sister worked at re-organizing the Archives with two other Sisters. It was a ten-year project that brought the collection of the history of the Sylvania Franciscans into the 20th Century via technology and archival disciplines.