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- sent letter to School Sisters of Notre Dame, Archives of the Milwaukee Pro vince, 13105 Watertown Plank Road Elm Grove, WI 53122
Subj: Sister Calasanza Romenesko Date: 2/12/2003 1:11:27 PM Pacific Stand ard Time From: ssobczyn@ssnd-milw.orgDear Jay, Your request for information on Sister Calasanza was forward ed to me in the Archives. An obituary was written for Sister and I will i nclude it in this e-mail.
"You would make a wonderful hospital nurse, Philomena." This praise fr om her fatally ill mother, gave Sister M. Calasanza the first thought of g iving herself to a special work as a religious. Six years later, at twent y-one, Philomena was compelled to come to terms with herself while meditat ing on Christ's vivid condemnation of tepidity. Desiring to do a positi ve work in the Church, Philomena made the necessary contacts and with t he guidance of Sister Mary Leopoldine, the superior at St. Francis Xavi er Cathedral, Green Bay, entered the candidature in Milwaukee.
Making known her desire for the nursing profession, Novice Mary Calasan za hoped that her superior would consider such an assignment for her. Sist er tells us however, that she learned a valuable and enduring Novitiate l esson in Our Lady's recommendation, "Do whatever He tells you," and receiv ed with true joy the obedience that sent her to the classroom.
From first to last, Sister cherished her vocation as she herself relate s. For more than 50 years Sister was a better than average teacher. Eve ry child in her classroom was her big concern. She would not spare herse lf in serving these little ones and in particular her First Communicants.
When Sister was working at St. Joseph's Home in Green Bay, her health a nd eye-sight failed to such an extent that she was forced to give up scho ol work. Nevertheless, her assignment as refectorian for the Sisters at t he home revealed the same attention to the individual wants and needs of h er Sisters. She took care to keep a late dinner hot and to serve it wi th a smile. Her community of these days remember her pleasant. polite a nd cheerful demeanor.
During an active 57 years of service, Sister was stationed at: St. John Ka nty, Chicago; St. Francis, De Pere; Our Lady of Lourdes, Dobie; St. Michae l, Milwaukee; St. Luke, Gary; and St. Joseph Home, Green Bay.
In 1955, Sister retired to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mount Calvary, Wiscon sin and as age made more demands on her feeble strength, was transferr ed to Notre Dame Infirmary, Elm Grove as a patient in 1959.
Always trying to avoid burdening others, Sister got around at the infirma ry as best she could, but unhappily fell and broke her arm. This accide nt confined Sister to her room or to a wheelchair and after a bout with t he flu during the ensuing winter months, Sister gradually grew very wea k. On April 22 Extreme Unction was administered and on May 6, Sister prep ared to welcome the angel of death. About 3:20 a.m., Monsignor Rodenkirc h, Mother Annunciata, Sister's niece, Sister M. Josepha and the nurses, wi tnessed the quiet, peaceful exit of Sister's soul. Sister had a special d evotion to our Sorrowful Mother, daily saying her chaplet. By a strange c oincidence, Sister now lies buried near the 13th Station of the cross in t he Elm Grove cemetery.
A child of God from within twenty-four hours of her birth, this first gene ration American citizen spent her formative years in the quiet little vill age of Freedom, Wisconsin. Her parents, Gerhard Romenesco and Theresa Hag el were staunch old-world Catholics. Little is actually known of Sister 's early life. She attended the two room village school where she first l earned to know and love our Sisters. A prominent doctor in Green Bay alwa ys mentions Sister as his mother's hired girl who helped to bring him u p. He attests that, "Some of the dearest memories of my childhood are lin ked with good Sister Mary Calasanza."
Her long life of conformity to God's will and loving care for His childre n, have no doubt earned her an everlasting reward. May Sister Mary Calasa nza intercede for our loved Order and send many girls with the measu re of her love to serve God and our Blessed Mother as she did.
May she rest in peace."
Name: Philomena Romenesko Entered: September 7, 1897Born: August 3, 1876 Received: September 6, 189 9Freedom, Wisconsin Professed: July 31, 1902Mother: Theresa Hagel Final Vows: July 22, 1909Father: Gerhard Romenesko Died: May 7, 1960 Notre Dame Infirmary, E lm Grove, WisconsinSister is buried in the convent cemetery in Elm Grove, but the positi on of the stations was changed. I am not certain if she is next to the th irteenth any longer. Also, we no longer have an infirmary. Retired Siste rs live here, but they are independent for the most part. The cemetery re mains and is used. If you are in the area, you are most welcome to vis it Sister's gravesite.
I do wish we had more of a family history, but those were not kept years a go. I hope this little bit will be of some help to you.
Sincerely, Sister Suzanne Rene Sobczynski, SSND Milwaukee Province Archive s
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1876 - 1960 (83 years)
Has 24 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.
Birth - Church Record
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