Sister Stories

Sister Maribeth Takes

Sister Maribeth served as a teacher in rural schools in Bernard, Iowa, and as a primary school teacher in Iowa at St. Mary School, Ottumwa, St. Mary School, Centerville, and Holy Trinity School in Davenport, and in St. Pius school and Jordan Catholic School in Rock Island, Illinois. She served as principal of St. Pius School, in the Fellow Program at Clarke College in Dubuque, IA, and volunteered at Marquette Academy, Davenport. She retired at Humility of Mary Center where she and Sr. Carla Takes completed many sewing projects and served as sacristans.

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Sister Marianne Nehus

Sister was involved for many years with the Animal Aid Humane Society, eventually becoming the executive director of the AAHS shelter in Moline, IL. She was honored by Governor Vilsack for her service on the Disabilities Policy Council in 2006.

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Sister Rosalind Restelli

Sr. Rosalind was also a pastoral minister at St. Patrick Parish in Neola. She was the last Sister of Humility to serve in Neola, Iowa, having ministered there for 37 years.

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Sister Catherine Linnenkamp

Sr. Catherine’s ministry of teaching in Iowa found her at St. Mary in Ottumwa, St. Mary School in Albia, St. Anthony School in Des Moines, Lourdes Memorial School in Bettendorf and Holy Trinity Catholic School in Davenport.

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Sister Mary Bea Snyder

video produced in 2019 Sr. Mary Bea Snyder was born in 1945 in Davenport, Iowa, and...

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Sister Mary St. John (Emma) Ven Horst

Sister St. John was a whirlwind of energy who brought together the first string ensemble at Ottumwa Heights College...

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Sister Frances Marie (Ellen) Melroy

After teaching for five years, she took nurse's training at St. Joseph Hospital, Ottumwa, where she was pediatric nurse, clinical instructor and supervisor of nurses for almost 20 years. There, she invented a special oxygen mask and nipple for children with cleft palates.

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Sister Mary Frances Therese (Rosalie) Doyle

She was a talented music teacher for all grades.

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Sister Mary Antoinette (Anna) Walsh

Sister was the first of three Walsh sisters to join the Congregation of the Humility of Mary. Throughout her life she was a teacher in public and parochial schools staffed by CHMs.

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Sister Mary Martina (Jennie) Mataya

Sister was an excellent science teacher and often received recognition of such.

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Sister Mary Jerome (Theresa) Gordon

She taught upper grades and commercial subjects in high school, then in later years, was librarian. Sister Jerome had a remarkable sense of humor, loved people, disliked routine and enjoyed travel.

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Sister Kayleen Heffron

She based her nursing ministry in Ottumwa at St. Joseph’s Hospital which later became Ottumwa Regional Health Center. Her RN skills were used as an emergency room supervisor and also in the skilled nursing facility.

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Sister Rae Elwood

Sr. Rae served as the vice-president of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary. She then served in Davenport as dean of admissions at Marycrest College, academic advisor at Marycrest International University, supportive living coordinator at the Humility of Mary Center, volunteer coordinator at CASI and a counselor in her private practice – Elwood Support Services.

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Sister Pat Heidenry

Sr. Pat received a BA in elementary education from Briar Cliff College and later a pastoral ministry certificate from Seattle University.

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Sister Marilyn Schierbrock

​For many years Sr. Marilyn was a neighborhood advocacy coordinator for John Lewis Community Service in Davenport, Iowa.​

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