Obit: Kaiser, Sister Mary Frances (1927 - 2017)
Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Baierl, Kaiser, Wagner
----Source: The Record - Review (Abbotsford, WI) 1/25/2017
Kaiser, Sister Mary Frances “Mae” (19 JUN 1927 - 23 JAN 2017)
Sister Mae Kaiser, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 89, died on Monday,
Jan. 23, 2017, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse. She was in the 67th year of her
religious profession.
Sister Mae was born on June 19, 1927, to Matthias and Thecla (Wagner) Kaiser in
Stratford. At her baptism she was given the name Mary Frances. Because of all of
the “Marys” in the relationship, she was called Mae.
Her years of childhood were much the same as all girls—getting into, perhaps,
more than her share of mischief when tagging after her two older brothers. She
attended St. Joseph’s School, Stratford, which was staffed by the FSPA. The
years following her eighth grade graduation were spent at home helping with the
work entailed in caring for a family of five brothers and five sisters. Often an
S.O.S. for help came from families in the vicinity and Mae would lend a helping
hand. This work consisted in playing nurse maid and being assistant or chief
cook. At the age of 20, Mae heard the Lord’s knock at the door of her heart and
she followed her two younger sisters, Alice and Joann, to St. Rose Convent.
Mary was received into the novitiate on Aug. 12, 1948, and was given the name
Sister Ann Clare. She later returned to the name her family had always called
her, Mae. She made profession of vows on Aug. 12, 1950, and final profession on
Aug. 9, 1956.
Sister Mae ministered to her sisters in the FSPA community for twenty years as a
homemaker in convent homes in Dodgeville, Superior, Lima and La Crosse, and
Lansing, Iowa. She served two years (1960-1962) as a housekeeper at Viterbo
College (University) and four years (1962-1966) at St. Angela Academy in
Carroll, Iowa. Sister Mae was employed in dietary services at hospitals in Idaho
Falls and Arco, Idaho (1957-1960), St. Francis Medical Center (MCHS-FH) and La
Crosse (1971-1979). In 1979, she was appointed director of housekeeping at St.
Rose Convent, a position she held until she retired in 1998. Sister Mae moved to
Villa St. Joseph in 2014.
Community members, family and colleagues remember Sister Mae as an accomplished
seamstress, a good cook, a creative craftswoman and an efficient cleaner and
organizer. In her retirement she sewed innumerable sets of drapes for the
bedrooms at St. Rose Convent. Sister Mae always had a twinkle in her eye—as
though she was looking for the next opportunity to get into mischief. She was
kind and gentle and interested in her sisters and her work companions.
Sister Mae is survived by her Franciscan community; two sisters, Mildred
(Anthony) Eilers of Marshfield, and Carol (Gary) Watson of Corvallis, Ore.; and
three brothers, Mark (Agnes) of Stratford, Edward (Delphine) of Appleton and
Paul (Joan) Kaiser of Great Falls, Mont.; and nieces and nephews. Sister
Catherine Kaiser, FSPA, and Sister Margaret Wagner, FSPA, are among her
surviving cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Sister Joann Kaiser, FSPA,
Sister Alice Kaiser, FSPA and Monica Baierl; and her brothers, Father Leonard
Kaiser and Joseph.
Friends may call after 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at St. Rose Convent. A
prayer service will be held that evening at 6:30 p.m. in Mary of the Angels
Chapel. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Jan. 26, at
10 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse.
www.Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market
Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601-4782.
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