Obit: Hebert, Sister Betty (1941 – 2018)
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Hebert, Hennes, Kosier, Peterson, Weis, Borchardt
Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 22 Jan 2018
Hebert, Sister Betty (24 JAN 1941 – 17 JAN 2018)
La Crosse - Sister Betty Hebert, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, one
week short of her 77th birthday, died on Jan. 17, 2018, at Villa St. Joseph, La
Crosse, Wisconsin. She was in the fifty-seventh year of her religious
profession.
Elizabeth (Betty) was born on Jan. 24, 1941, the fourth of ten children to
Francis and Rita Elizabeth (Hennes) Hebert in Unity, Wisconsin. She was baptized
two days later because she had difficulty breathing and she had surgery to
remove a growth on her lung. The family moved often during her childhood. Betty
enjoyed the outdoors and was often driving the tractor, feeding the animals,
sewing, and making bread. As her father said, "You can do anything if you put
your mind to it." Betty attended Unity School for Grades 1-6, then St. Mary's
School, Colby, for seventh and eighth grade. After a year of high school, she
followed the call to religious life, entering St. Rose Convent on Aug. 26, 1956.
Betty was received into the novitiate on Aug. 12, 1959, and was given the name
Sister Theolinda. (She later returned to her baptismal name.) She pronounced
first vows on Aug. 12, 1961, and final vows on Aug. 9, 1966.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Viterbo
College (University), with a double minor in biology and chemistry. Entering the
healthcare profession, she served for 14 years as a medical technician at St.
Francis Hospital (MCHS-FH) in La Crosse, three years at Sacred Heart Hospital,
Idaho Falls, three years in Irvine, Kentucky and three years at St. Joseph
Hospital in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. In 1982, Sister Betty was diagnosed with
lymphoma. Despite continuing health issues, she began and successfully completed
the occupational therapy program at St. Catherine's College, St. Paul. She
ministered in the field of occupational therapy and home health care for another
14 years in hospitals and facilities in Tucson, Santa Fe, and Yakima,
Washington. Due to failing health, she retired in 2002, continuing to volunteer
at the bloodmobile and St. Clare Health Mission in La Crosse. She moved to St.
Rose Convent in 2008 and then to Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse in 2010.
Community members, family and friends remember Sister Betty as an adventuresome
person who loved nature, a creative and patient person with a deep faith and
trust in God. She enjoyed helping others and encouraging them to be the best
they could be. She did home health on weekends and learned Biomagnetic Touch
Healing and incorporated that with her occupational therapy. When her sister
Virginia (Ginny) became critically ill, Sister Betty came back to the Midwest
and helped to care for her until her death. At that time, she came to the
decision that her health would no longer allow her to hold a full-time job. She
volunteered at St. Clare Health Mission where she could help the poor. She sat
with people who were dying. She spent her life joyfully giving to and serving
others.
Sister Betty is survived by her Franciscan Community; three brothers: Gerald
Hebert, Neshkoro, Wisconsin, Joseph (Pauline) Hebert, Marshfield, Wisconsin, and
Daniel (Nancy) Hebert, Arizona City; two sisters: Carol Kosier, Colby,
Wisconsin, and Rosaline (Duane) Peterson, Neillsville, Wisconsin and many nieces
and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers: Richard and
Francis and two sisters: Antonette Weis and Virginia Borchardt.
A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel that
evening. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Jan. 24,
at 10 a.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven
Cemetery, La Crosse. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes is assisting with
arrangements.
Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market
Street, La Crosse, WI 54601-4728.
© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.
Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.
Become a Clark County History Buff
|
|
A site created and
maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke, Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,
|