Eight women's efforts total 455 years of care

Eight women with ties to the Green Bay Diocese are marking their jubilees of religious life as members of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (SSJ-TOSF). The jubilee celebrations will be held the weekend of Aug. 4 and 5 at the congregational home in Stevens Point. The order is celebrating its centennial year in 2001.

Sr. Mary Ellen Diermeier is a 25th jubilarian, originally from St. Joseph Parish in Appleton. She became a novice on Sept. 8, 1976. She has served as a teacher in Arcadia, Dorchester and Stevens Point, Wis. In 1986, she became director of religious education at St. Peter's, Stevens Point. For the last three years, she has been pastoral associate at St. Ladislaus in Bevent.

Sr. Angelora Grossman, a 50th jubilarian, is originally from Arcadia and entered the novitiate on Aug. 10, 1951. She served as a teacher in Milwaukee before becoming principal and teacher at St. Matthew in Wausau from 1965 to 1985. She also taught in Durand and was a switchboard operator at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, where she now lives. She also is a substitute teacher in Eau Claire.

Sr. Jeanette Zella is a 60th jubilarian originally from Milwaukee. She served as a teacher, librarian and principal in various schools in Stevens Point, Milwaukee and Minnesota. She entered semi-retirement in 1986, serving as convent chauffeur. She moved to Maria Center at the congregation's home in 1995.

Sr. Leocadia Brzozowski entered the congregation in 1941 from St. Stanislaus Parish in Hofa Park. She used her skills as homemaker, gardener and cook for the sisters in carious Wisconsin parishes, including at Stevens Point, Superior, Milwaukee, St. John the Baptist in Menasha and St. Anthony in Niagara, as well as in Minnesota. Now retired, she continues to work in the congregational home's garden, sacristy and kitchen.

Sr. Jane Frances Koszarek is celebrating her 60th jubilee. She entered the novitiate on Aug. 5 1941 from her home parish of St. Hyacinth in Antigo. She served as a teacher in Stevens Point and Milwaukee. After receiving a master's degree in education from Marquette University, she became School Superior for the Milwaukee Archdiocese for 12 years. She was elected to the Provincial Council in 1966. She later became Dean of Studies and academic counselor for the congregation. She returned to teaching and now works in the finance office for the SSJ-TOSFs, coordinating social security accounts.

Sr. Irmina Bula also entered the novitiate on Aug. 5, 1941 from St. Hyacinth, Antigo. She began her career as a teacher in Milwaukee and later trained as a dietitian. She served in Stevens Point and Wakefield, Mich., before serving at Holy Family Hospital and Park Lawn Home, both in Manitowoc. In 1983, she and Sr. Edmund Antoniewicz founded the Sisters Treatment Group Home in Two Rivers for children and adults with severe developmental disabilities. They have since served over 80 persons.

Sr. Mary Albinette Bloch entered the SSJ-TOSFs in 1930 from South Chicago. She served as a teacher in Stevens Point, Independence and Milwaukee. She served as superior at the house at St. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Eaton. She later returned to teaching at St. Stanislaus, Hofa Park; St. John, Menasha; Cashton, Milwaukee and Stevens Point. She retired in 1972, but has continued to provide home, food and support services at the congregation home, where she now lives.

Sr. Mary Disher became a novice on Aug. 4, 1931. She is a native of Fancher, Wis., and served as a teacher in Chicago, Milwaukee, Arcadia, Menasha, Green Bay, Stevens Point, Independence and Junction City. She later worked as treasurer and bookkeeper. Finally, she was a homemaker before retiring in 1997. She now resides at St. Joseph Congregational Home in Stevens Point.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis was founded in 1901 in Stevens Point (then in the Green Bay Diocese, now in the La Crosse Diocese). The Franciscan community has nearly 500 members in Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin and 11 other states, as well as four locations outside the United States.