Several Sisters of Providence celebrate significant jubilees
Criterion staff report
In 2024, 12 members of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, celebrated significant milestones in the congregation.
80-year jubilarian
Sister Mildred Giesler, formerly Sister Alma Joseph, was born in Jasper, Ind. (Evansville Diocese). She entered the congregation on Jan. 10, 1944, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
Sister Mildred earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, and a master’s degree in religious education at the University of Seattle in Seattle.
In the archdiocese, she served at the former St. Ann School in New Castle from 1955-58, and in Indianapolis at the former St. Andrew the Apostle School from 1959‑65 and St. Simon the Apostle School from 1981-88.
At the motherhouse, Sister Mildred ministered in various capacities from 2003‑2019.
She also served in the Indiana dioceses of Evansville and Lafayette, and in California, Illinois and Massachusetts.
Sister Mildred dedicated herself entirely to prayer at the motherhouse beginning in 2019.
75-year jubilarians
Sister Barbara Ann Bluntzer, formerly Sister Mary Martha, was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She entered the congregation on June 7, 1949, and professed final vows on Jan. 23, 1957.
Sister Barbara Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in elementary education at Indiana University in Bloomington.
In the archdiocese, she served at St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1952-54, and in Terre Haute at the former Sacred Heart School from 1954-56 and at St. Patrick School from 2018-19. From 2019 to the present, Sister Barbara Ann has served at the motherhouse as a volunteer docent, greeter, flower arranger and in the Providence Hall phone room.
She has also ministered in Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Sister Marian Brady was born in Washington, D.C. She entered the congregation on Feb. 11, 1949, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
Sister Marian earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Trinity Washington University and a master’s degree and doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of America, both in Washington, D.C.
In the archdiocese, she ministered at the former Ladywood School in Indianapolis from 1951-55, at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1955‑56, at the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1956‑57, and as a professor and administrator at Saint Mary‑of‑the‑Woods College from 1962-67.
Sister Marian also ministered in Washington, D.C.
She dedicated herself entirely to prayer at the motherhouse beginning in 2023.
Sister Marie Denis Lucey was born in Brighton, Mass. She entered the congregation on July 22, 1949, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1957.
Sister Marie Denis earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at the former St. Ann School in 1952 and 1958, at St. Philip Neri School from 1955-57, and at St. Joan of Arc School from 1958-61.
Sister Marie Denis also ministered in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.
She currently ministers in convent service in Washington, D.C.
Sister Regina Marie McIntyre was born in Eaton, Ohio, and later lived in Richmond, where she was a member of the former St. Mary Parish (now a campus of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish). She entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1949, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
Sister Regina Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in music at Indiana University.
In the archdiocese, she served at the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute in 1951, at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1955-56, at St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1956-79, at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Bloomington from 1979-83, and at Saint Meinrad Archabbey and at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, both in St. Meinrad, from 2013-19.
Sister Regina Marie ministered in various capacities at the motherhouse from 1985-2003.
She also served in Illinois, Maryland, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.
Sister Regina Maria currently ministers as an organist, teacher, gardener and receptionist at the motherhouse and as an organist at St. Mary-of-the-Woods Parish in St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Margaret Norris, formerly Sister Marie Angeline, was born in Jasper. She entered the congregation on July 22, 1949, and professed final vows on Jan. 23, 1957.
Sister Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Indiana University.
In the archdiocese, she served at St. Michael School in Greenfield from 1965-69.
Sister Margaret also ministered in the Diocese of Evansville and in Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina.
She currently serves at the motherhouse and at The Helping Hands in West Terre Haute.
Sister Joann Quinkert, formerly Sister Joan Margaret, was born in New Albany, where she grew up as a member of the former Holy Trinity Parish. She entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1949, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
Sister Joann earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.
In the archdiocese, she served St. Paul School (now St. John Paul II School) in Sellersburg from 1956-57 and at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1970-76.
Sister Joann also ministered in the Evansville Diocese and the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., and in Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky and North Carolina.
She currently ministers at the motherhouse, where she has served in various capacities since 2001, and in prison ministry in Terre Haute.
70-year jubilarians
Sister Kathleen Dede, formerly Sister Marie Arthur, is a native of Terre Haute, where she grew up as a member of the former St. Ann Parish. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.
Sister Kathleen earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in social work at St. Louis University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in theological studies at the Franciscan School of Theology in San Diego, Calif.
Sister Kathleen served in the archdiocese in Indianapolis at the former St. Anthony School from 1956-58 and at the former St. Andrew the Apostle School from 1964-67, at the former St. Mary-of-the-Woods School in St. Mary-of-the-Woods from 1968-69, as a substitute teacher from 2011-13 and as a nursing home visitor from 2013-15.
She also ministered on the faculty and as a social worker of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1978-82 and as a social worker at the Katherine Hamilton Mental Health Center in Terre Haute from 1978-79. She volunteered at the motherhouse from 2016-2020. Since then, Sister Kathleen has dedicated herself entirely to prayer.
She also ministered in the Evansville Diocese and in California, Florida, Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri.
Sister Katheleen is the sister of three deceased archdiocesan priests: Father James Dede, Father John Dede and Father Paul Dede. Two of her sisters are also members of the Sisters of Providence: Sister Eileen Dede and Sister Mary Mark Dede. A third sister is Benedictine Sister Patricia Dede, a member of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove.
Sister Joseph Fillenwarth was born in Indianapolis and grew up as a member of the former Holy Cross Parish. She entered the congregation on Jan. 4, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.
Sister Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
In the archdiocese, Sister Joseph served in Indianapolis at Holy Spirit School from 1963-67 and at St. Joan of Arc School from 1967-78. She also ministered as director of Providence Food Pantry in West Terre Haute and then as a volunteer there from 2006-22. Since 2022, Sister Joseph has volunteered at The Helping Hands in West Terre Haute, and at the motherhouse at Providence Hall Chapel and in the laundry of church linens.
She also ministered in the Evansville Diocese and the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, and in Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Sister Dorothy Larson, formerly Sister Margaret Marian, was born in Chicago. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.
Sister Dorothy earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Ball State University.
She ministered in the Diocese of Evansville and in Illinois, North Carolina and Oklahoma.
Sister Dorothy dedicated herself entirely to prayer at the motherhouse in 2020.
Sister Maria Smith, formerly Sister Maria Goretti, was born in Lafayette, Ind. She entered the congregation on Jan. 4, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Indiana University.
In the archdiocese, Sister Maria ministered in Indianapolis at the former St. Ann School from 1967-70 and at St. Simon the Apostle School from 1977‑79. She served at St. Mary School (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School) in Richmond from 1964-67 and 1970-73, and at St. Patrick School in Terre Haute from 1979-82.
She also ministered in New Albany at Providence Retirement Home from 1982‑94 and at Providence Self-Sufficiency Ministries from 1994-96, and as a treatment coordinator in Terre Haute from 1997-2001. She ministered in Georgetown at the Villas at Guerin Woods and at Providence Self-Sufficiency Ministries from 2007-2019.
Sister Maria served in various capacities at the motherhouse from 2001-2007 and 2019-21.
She also ministered in the Diocese of Lafayette and in Illinois and Oklahoma.
She dedicated herself entirely to prayer at the motherhouse beginning in 2021.
Sister Marilyn Trobaugh, formerly Sister Robert Louise, was born in Lafayette. She entered the congregation on Jan. 4, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.
Sister Marilyn earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in elementary education at Ball State University.
In the archdiocese, she served at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1956-59, at Providence Retirement Home in New Albany from 1970-71, at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1971-73, and as a bookkeeper at nursing homes in Indianapolis from 1976‑97. Sister Maria then ministered in various capacities at the motherhouse from 1997-2021.
She also ministered in the Lafayette and Evansville dioceses. She currently serves in Terre Haute by preparing bags for crocheted sleeping mats. †
