April 13, 2008

Celebrated 70 years of Religious Life:

Sister Eileen Pentecost entered the community from St. Paul Parish. She served as teacher at Our Lady of the Elms School, principal at St. Bernard in Akron and St. Augustine in Barberton, and school supervisor of the Cleveland Diocese. Sister Eileen served her congregation as novice mistress, councilor and major superior. In 1972, she was assistant superintendent of schools for the Youngstown Diocese. She was appointed to head the Evangelization Office in the Youngstown Diocese and was mission education consultant. She is retired at Regina Health Center, Richfield.

Celebrated 65 years of Religious Life:

Sister Camille Cuenin entered from St. Paul Parish, Akron. She taught at St. Bernard, St. Paul and St. Vincent Schools in Akron; St. Augustine School, Barberton; and St. Felicitas, Cleveland. She also served in parish ministry at St. Peter Parish, Loudonville, and as receptionist at St. Joseph Melkite Parish, Akron. Sister Camille is retired at Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse.

Sister Maryagnes Slattery, the former Sister Robert, also entered from St. Paul Parish, Akron. She taught at St. Augustine School, Barberton; St. Hilary, Fairlawn; SS. Peter & Paul, Doylestown; Our Lady of the Elms School, Akron; St. Felicitas School, Euclid ; and was service director at St. Martin de Porres Center in St. Agatha Parish, Cleveland. She was on the pastoral team at St. Anthony Hospital and chaplain at Mercy Medical Center, both in Denver, Colorado; Sister is retired at Regina Health Center, Richfield.

Celebrated 60 years of Religious Life:

Sister Frances Ellsperman, the former Sister Ruth, entered from St. Mary Parish, Wooster. She taught at St. Dominic, Youngstown; St. Vincent, Akron; and St. Augustine, Barberton. She was principal at St. Matthew, Akron and St. Agnes, Orrville. Sister Frances also was principal at St. Mary School, Kingman, and St. Daniel, the Prophet in Scottsdale, both in Arizona. Later, she served as DRE and pastoral minister at St. Daniel. In 1993 she became pastoral associate at Corpus Christi Parish, Phoenix, Arizona, a position she still holds.

Sister Martha Fox, the former Sister Jerome, entered from Holy Trinity Parish, Bucyrus. Sister taught at SS. Peter & Paul School, Doylestown; St. Mary, Wooster; St. Felicitas, Cleveland; St. Dominic, Youngstown; and St. Vincent and St. Paul Schools in Akron. She served as a counselor as part of the Cleveland Mission Team in El Salvador and in pastoral ministry at Fallsview Psychiatric Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls. She is serving in the senior companion program and in community service at Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse.

Sister Rosemarie Robinson joined the Akron Dominicans from St. Dominic Parish, Youngstown. Sister Rosemarie taught at St. Bernard, St. Paul, and Our Lady of the Elms, Akron; St. Felicitas, Cleveland; and taught and was principal at St. Augustine, Barberton. She was also principal at SS. Peter & Paul School, Doylestown. In 1969, Sister Rosemarie was elected councilor and from 1973-81 was elected president of the Sisters of St. Dominic. She served as co-delegate and then vicar for Religious for the Cleveland Diocese. She has served as treasurer and business manager of Our Lady of the Elms School, personnel director of the lay employees and maintenance coordinator. Presently, she provides community service at Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse.

Sister Ruth Schneider, the former Sister Stephen, entered from St. Mary Parish, Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She is Associate Professor, Department of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning at Bowling Green State University. Previously, Sister Ruth taught elementary school in Akron, Wooster, and Cleveland. She was librarian at Our Lady of the Elms High School and director of the media center of the library. Sister Ruth has written for library and media journals and in 1995 traveled to Latvia to help set up the first theological library there.

Sister Francine Stalter joined the Akron Dominicans from St. Matthew Parish. Sister Francine taught at St. Paul School, St. Vincent School and Our Lady of the Elms Preschool, all in Akron; St. Mary School, Wooster; St. Dominic, Youngstown; and St. Joseph, Alliance. Sister Francine was librarian at Cleveland Central Catholic High School and St. Thomas Hospital, Akron, and in special services at Our Lady of the Elms. She continues as librarian at Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse.

Sister Eleanor Wack, the former Sister Dismas, entered religious life from St. Vincent Parish, Akron. Sister Eleanor spent most of her religious life teaching first grade at St. Augustine, Barberton; St. Vincent and St. Matthew, Akron; St. Agnes, Orrville; Immaculate Conception, Ravenna; and SS. Peter & Paul, Doylestown. She was also principal at St. Agnes, Orrville; Immaculate Conception, Ravenna; and SS. Peter & Paul, Doylestown. From 2002-07, Sister served as parish assistant at St. Matthew Parish. Sister Eleanor was active in the Peace and Justice Commission of the congregation and volunteered at the Center of Hope, Ravenna, for many years. She is retired at the Elms Motherhouse.

Celebrated 55 years of Religious Life:

Sister Bernadine Baltrinic, the former Sister Jude, entered religious life from St. Francis de Sales Parish, Akron. She taught at Immaculate Conception School, Ravenna; St. Agatha School, Cleveland; and St. Joseph, Mantua. She served as a member of the El Salvador Cleveland Diocesan Mission Team for nine years. When she returned to the U.S., she served the Hispanic Community at St. Michael Parish, Cleveland, and the Akron Dominicans as vocation director. Sister Bernadine was Motherhouse coordinator for five years. The congregation elected her councilor for two, four-year terms and president for another two, four-year terms. Sister Bernadine has been active in social justice issues and had been a member of the Akron Catholic Commission and First Friday Club. Presently, she continues as vocation director.

Sister Beatrice Fitzgerald joined the Akron Dominicans from St. Mary Parish, Wooster. She is a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms High School. Sister Beatrice began her teaching career at the primary level at St. Paul and St. Bernard Schools, Akron. She also taught at St. Augustine, Barberton and St. Dominic, Youngstown. Beginning in 1987 she became activities assistant at The Village at St. Edward, Fairlawn, and is known to many there as Sister Bea. In 2003 she accepted the Spiritual Care position. Sister Beatrice also continues her special ministry of visiting the sick and elderly in nursing homes and in hospitals.

Sister Patricia Marie Sigler, the former Sister Assumpta, entered from St. Mary, Wooster. Sister Patricia Marie is a graduate of Our Lady of the Elms High School. Her teaching career includes St. Matthew, St. Hilary, and St. Paul, all in Akron; St. Felicitas, Cleveland; St. Dominic, Youngstown and SS. Peter & Paul Doylestown. For ten years she served as treasurer of the Elms Motherhouse and Our Lady of the Elms Schools and part of that time she was personnel director of the lay employees at the Elms. In 1991 she became coordinator of Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath and still remains a member of the Advisory Board. She was elected councilor by her congregation to two, four-year terms. In 2000, she became Motherhouse and plan administrator, a position she held until this past year. Over the years, she has been a member of the Elms School Board, Finance Commission, Chapel Renovation Committee and Justice & Peace Commission. She was also a member of the Good Samaritan Hunger Center Board. In 1992, in collaboration with Women’s History Project, the Sisters of St. Dominic named her as congregational “Woman of the Year.”