11 Providence sisters are honored for 70 years of ministry

Eleven Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods were recently honored as 70-year jubilarians.

Sisters Dorothy Marie Ahern, Agnes Arvin, Mary Loyola Bender, Bernadette Mary Carroll, Mary Imelda Coulup, Petra Daschbach, Ann Xavier Hau, Jean Patrece Keenon, Helen Dolores Losleben, Joseph Clare McCarthy and Rose Marita Riordan entered the community seven decades ago.

A native of Gurley, Neb., Sister Dorothy Marie Ahern ministers at Providence Health Care Services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1939, from St. Elizabeth Parish in Van Nuys, Calif., and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Dorothy Marie earned bachelor’s degrees in English and education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and a master’s degree in education at Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas.

She ministered at Catholic schools in California, Illinois and Oklahoma.

A native of Bedford, Sister Agnes Arvin ministers at Providence Health Care Services at the motherhouse.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 5, 1939, from SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Indianapolis and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Agnes earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Indiana University in Bloomington.

In Indianapolis, she taught at St. Philip Neri School from 1947-50, St. Thomas Aquinas School from 1950-51, St. Joan of Arc School from 1958-59 and St. Jude School from 1959-65.

Elsewhere in the archdiocese, Sister Agnes taught at the former Sacred Heart School in Terre Haute from 1951-52 and Holy Family School in New Albany from 1965-66.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as a general officer from 1966-71.

Sister Agnes ministered as a volunteer at the St. Ann Clinic in Terre Haute, the Woods Day Care/PreSchool at the motherhouse and Providence Self-Sufficiency Ministries in Vigo County from 2000-02 then in the ministry of care at the motherhouse from 2002-06.

She also taught at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, Iowa and the West Indies.

A native of Owensboro, Ky., Sister Mary Loyola Bender ministers as a seamstress and in prayer.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1939, from St. Joseph Parish in Owensboro and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1946.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Loyola taught at the former St. Benedict School in Terre Haute in 1945, and served as the administrator of the Providence Retirement Home in New Albany from 1968-78.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered as a seamstress and assistant sacristan from 1941-45, sacristan and seamstress from 1945-68, and seamstress from 2004-07.

She also ministered at parishes in Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts.

A native of Alhambra, Calif., Sister Bernadette Mary Carroll ministers in health care companionship at the motherhouse.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1939, from All Souls Parish in Alhambra, Calif., and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Bernadette Mary earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis from 1946-47, the former St. Andrew School in Indianapolis from 1953-54 and the former St. Benedict School in Terre Haute from 1947-53.

She also taught at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in California.

A native of Vincennes, Ind., Sister Mary Imelda Coulop ministers as a volunteer in the Printery and Office of Congregational Advancement at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 11, 1939, from St. John Parish in Vincennes and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Mary Imelda earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.

In Indianapolis, she taught at the former St. Ann School from 1945-46, Holy Cross School from 1946-47 and the former St. Catherine School from 1968-76.

Elsewhere in the archdiocese, Sister Mary Imelda taught at St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1950-51, the former St. Ann School in Terre Haute from 1951-52, the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute from 1962-67, the former St. Anne School in New Castle from 1976-82 and Our Lady of the Greenwood School in Greenwood from 1982-96.

She also ministered as a teacher and principal at the former St. Leonard School in West Terre Haute from 1967-68.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Mary Imelda served as a driver for the transportation department from 1996 until she retired in 2006.

She also ministered at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois and Maryland.

A native of Pittsburgh, Sister Petra Daschbach ministers in parish and school services at St. Ann Parish and School in Washington, D.C.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 1, 1939, from St. Philip Parish in Pittsburgh and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1948.

Sister Petra earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in Latin at DePaul University in Chicago.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis in 1942, the former St. John Academy in Indianapolis from 1948-50, the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1953-55 and Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1955-59.

She also ministered at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

A native of Chicago, Sister Ann Xavier Hau ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 5, 1939, from St. Leo Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Ann Xavier earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, she taught at Our Lady of the Greenwood School in Greenwood from

1956-57.

She also ministered at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, Maryland, California and Missouri.

A native of Chicago, Sister Jean Patrece Keenon ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1939, from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Jean Patrece earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at DePaul University.

In Indianapolis, she taught at the former St. Ann School from 1944-45, St. Philip Neri School from 1946-47, St. Thomas Aquinas School from 1947-48, Holy Cross School from 1950-53, the former Cathedral Grade School from 1953-56, Holy Spirit School from 1956-58 and the former St. Agnes Academy from 1966-67.

Elsewhere in the archdiocese, Sister Jean Patrece served as director of the Providence Retirement Home in New Albany from 1980-82.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered at the House of Prayer from 1970-71, the activity room from 1971-73, as director of retirement from 1973-75, the infirmary from 1975-76, as treasurer of Providence Hall and Foley Hall from 1976-79, the business office from 1979-80, as a community representative from 1982-86, as director of activities and a volunteer at Providence Health Care Services from 1988-90, in health care services from 1990-91, the activities department from 1991-95, the Providence Hall mail room from 1995-96 and in residential services from 1996 until 2004.

She also ministered at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois and North Carolina.

A native of Anaheim, Calif., Sister Helen Dolores Losleben ministers in the activity room at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 16, 1939, from St. Boniface Parish in Anaheim and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1948.

Sister Helen Dolores earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at DePaul University.

She has ministered at Catholic schools in Illinois, California and Texas.

A native of Chicago, Sister Joseph Clare McCarthy ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 18, 1939, from Saint Andrew Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Joseph Clare earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village School near the motherhouse from 1940-41, St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis from 1941-47 and the former St. Andrew School in Indianapolis from 1948-53.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Joseph Clare served on the residential services staff from 1998 until 2006.

She also ministered at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, California and Missouri.

A native of Chicago, Sister Rose Marita ministers on the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 5, 1939, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1947.

Sister Rose Marita earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.

In Indianapolis, she taught at the former St. John School from 1941-47 and served as the principal of the former St. Bridget School from 1954-60.

Elsewhere in the archdiocese, Sister Rose Marita taught at the former Annunciation School in Brazil in 1976 and the former St. Anne School in New Castle in 1976.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered on the infirmary staff from 1970-71, as the infirmary administrator from

1971-76, as a counselor for the congregation’s Sacred Heart Province from 1976-77 and on the Woods Day Care/Pre-School staff from 1991 until 2006.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in California, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and New Hampshire.†