Geenen, Sister Mary James Alice

Other Events:

• Tombstone: St. Nicholas Catholic Cemetery, Freedom, Wisconsin, USA
• Religious Vows: 15 Aug 1946; Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
• Religious Vows: Aft 1947
• Education - College/University: Between 1969 and 1973; Masters in Education Univesity of Wisconsin Superior
• Obituary: 22 Feb 2012; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Religious Vows:
Sister Mary James

Obituary:
Geenen, Sister Mary James (Alice Margaret Mary)
Sister Mary James (Alice Margaret Mary) Geenen entered Eternal Life February 20, 2012, the third child of Henry R. Geenen and Gladys Catherine (McCormick) Geenen. She was born March 31, 1919 in Freedom. She attended Saint Nicholas Elementary School. After graduating from high school she attended Saint Norbert College and Silver Lake College where she earned a BA Degree in Elementary Education with majors in Philosophy and English. She attended the University of Dayton earning a MS Degree in Elementary Education.
Sister Mary James took religious vows on August 15, 1946 with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Manitowoc. She changed her community affiliation to the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady on December 8, 1981. Sister celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a Religious on August 15, 1996.
Sister Mary James served as a teacher in the Diocese of Green Bay at: Sacred Heart, Oshkosh; Saint Mary, Algoma; Saint Wendell, Cleveland; Saint Anthony, Neopit; Saint Aloysius, Kaukauna; Saint Paul, Manitowoc; Saint Mary, Kaukauna; Chilton Catholic, Chilton; Saint John, Seymour: In the Diocese of Superior; Saint Joseph, Rice Lake. In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Saint Mary, Waukesha; Holy Spirit, Milwaukee. In the Diocese of Steubenville: Ohio; Saint Nicholas, Zanesville: In Michigan: Saint Anne, Menominee.
Throughout her teaching career, Sister Mary James continued her education, earning credits from the University of Wisconsin, Manitowoc, and the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; the University of Dayton, Ohio. Sister held the following licenses: Elementary Teacher K-8 from the State of Wisconsin and from the State of Ohio-Elementary Teacher K-8, Supervisor and Administrator. During her teaching career she continued to maintain Advanced Certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of Green Bay and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Sister Mary James served the Church for 47 years as a dynamic, energetic and dedicated teacher. As a philosophy of education, she believed that "Education should be positive, learning should be exciting, challenging and fun. Every child should be successful and be at ease in the classroom." She involved every student in her class and spent countless hours tutoring students who were in need of help. No sacrifice was too great, no effort too much when Sister Mary James perceived a child in need of help. A smile, a nod, a word of encouragement and time for individual tutoring, sometimes a minute or two and frequently after school for a longer period.
She recognized special talents in the poor and made every effort to have their giftedness recognized by others - in musicals and plays. She encouraged all her students to use their talents to the best of their ability. Her students were motivated to be service oriented. They visited hospitals, homes for the elderly and retirement homes always taking with them some small gift/card which they had made for the patients/residents. They entertained with song and dance on these occasions bringing great joy to the sick and elderly. Sister was a teacher in Religious Education Classes on Saturday or Sunday mornings; during the week after school or in the evening and during the summer at rural parishes in Wisconsin and Ohio preparing children and young people for the Sacraments of First Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation.
At the University of Dayton Sister Mary James was selected from a class of 53 students, and was encouraged to pursue a career of teaching on television as a "Master Teacher". Her practicum Project for the Masters Degree was entitled, "The Use of Community Resources", which opened up a year of educational activities for 40 sixth grade students. The students were exposed to such subjects as history, economics, law, sociology, psychology, law enforcement, fine arts, music and agriculture. The program included views of life, culture and habits of people in Russia, Mexico, Greenland and Peru as seen through the eyes of people who had lived there.
Sister Mary James was involved as an organizer/teacher in summer school workshops in reading, spelling and math for remedial and advanced students; art seminar; and summer Religious Education Programs. She taught in a College Reading Clinic; prepared students and directed them in Diocesan Music Festivals; maintained membership in a College Chorus for eight years; directed programs of entertainment at schools; trained altar servers and held regular meetings of high school and grade school servers in the club, KNIGHTS OF THE ALTAR; participated in the production of Christmas plays, musicals, spring concerts, St. Patrick's Day programs, teaching songs, speaking parts, dance numbers, frequently directing the programs.
The preparation for the class Liturgies was the highlight of the week for Sister Mary James and her students at all grade levels. Her 15 years in junior high gave her the opportunity to develop leaders in the Church in the students who were eager to participate in the preparation of the class Liturgies. Each student was given an opportunity to sign up to do the reading, responsorial psalm, intercessions, presentation of gifts, prepare the art form when needed and participate in dramatization of the Gospel. Every student was involved in the preparation of the Liturgy, and they knew in advance when they were going to be involved. The Scriptures came alive in the classroom, as students dramatized the story of Jesus choosing the twelve, the story of Zacchaeus, the two debtors etc. Students loved the Liturgy and Scripture and sometimes asked if they could have a New Testament to keep as their very own. At the celebrations of the Class Liturgies, Sister often accompanied the music on her guitar, with students in the class.
After many delightful years of teaching, Sister enjoyed being involved: tutoring students on all grade levels, writing letters of encouragement to missionaries, praying for them, making mission rosaries, delivering Meals on Wheels, working with patients and shopping for them, helping children prepare for each new school year - shopping for school supplies, clothing and shoes, helping with costumes, attending their programs and being available to help them in any way. A former student of Sister Mary James, now a physician at Froedtert Hospital, told a colleague of his, "All I ever needed to know about life I learned from my third grade teacher!" What a marvelous influence Sister had on, not only one student, but all of her students who were privileged to have her as a master teacher.
Sister had many interests and hobbies: reading, drama, music, singing, dancing, walking, piano, guitar, roller skating, swimming, crocheting, macrame, cooking, baking, sewing and alterations.
Sister Mary James is survived by one brother: John; two sisters: Sister Timothy and Sister Rosemarie, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, friends, and students.
Sister was predeceased by her parents; brothers: Reverend James J. Geenen, Henry R. Jr., Joseph E., William T. and Patrick?J. Geenen: three sisters: Catherine Mary, Mary Marcella Geenen Fox, and Sister Rosalyn.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2012 in Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 2222 Shopiere Road, Beloit, WI with Father Gary Krahenbuhl officiating. Burial will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2012 in Saint Nicholas Cemetery, Freedom, WI. Family and friends will be received Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Road, Beloit, WI with a Prayer Service at 3:45 p.m. Visitation will also be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service in the church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.daleymurphywisch.com.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on February 22, 2012