News

Former diocesan archivist dies

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

GREEN BAY -- Carondelet Sr. Ella Kaster, retired diocesan archivist, died in St. Louis on Oct. 31. She was 82.

Sr. Ella had been a secretary, an elementary and high school teacher, diocesan archivist and a volunteer in residence at St. Mary Parish in Oshkosh, (now part of Most Blessed Sacrament Parish).

A memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Resurrection Church, 333 Hilltop, Green Bay. Bishop Robert Morneau will preside.

From 1991 to 2000, Sr. Ella was archivist for the Green Bay Diocese, where she oversaw records dating back to the 17th century. She was a native of Green Bay and had graduated from St. Joseph Academy, where she later taught for 22 years.

Last year, she moved to St. Louis and the motherhouse's assisted living center. "My work isn't over," she said at the time. "My days of parish work are over."

In St. Louis, her health prevented her from active ministry, though she had offered to volunteer in several capacities and continued her prayer ministry.

Sr. Judy Miller, a fellow Carondelet Sister, was parish director at St. Mary in Oshkosh while Sr. Ella lived there.

"Sr. Ella was warmly accepted into the community when she moved to Oshkosh," Sr. Judy said. "She was dearly loved by everyone. She made herself the unofficial hospitality greeter at all the Masses, where she welcomed people and was welcomed by them. Her sense of hospitality was there. She was willing to help in any way. She was a great asset to me, doing all sorts of behind-the-scenes jobs. When she left, there was a void that no one had known would be there. But that was typical of Sr. Ella; she was always behind the scenes, willing to help and always there for people."

Sr. Ella had known, from high school that she wanted to be a sister. She was 20 when she entered the St. Louis-based order that had taught her at St. Joseph Academy. She became a teacher in Chicago, St. Louis, Peoria, Indianapolis and Green Bay. Most of those years were spent teaching history to high school students; she had two master's degrees: in history and pastoral ministry.

Sr. Ella was at the diocesan offices from 1985 to 2000, first as a secretary and then as archivist. The archives job fit her love of history - she was also a active in the Brown County Historical Society - and her love of pastoral ministry.

"It's a good feeling when you can get people the certificate they need for a baptism or an annulment," she said at her retirement in 2000, adding that this might be the only contact most people had with the diocese. So she added a personal touch, such as asking the wedding date for people who called for information about a marriage certificate. "I'd write it on my calendar and pray for them on that day," she said.

Franciscan Sr. Ann Rehrauer, served as diocesan chancellor from 1987 to 1995. She said that Sr. Ella, as archivist, "was careful and exacting, but she was comfortable. In her work, she was very careful, but she put people at ease when she shared information with them, whether that was parishes looking for background for parish histories, or people doing genealogical studies. She took time to visit with them, to explain the process.

"For her," Sr. Ann added, "the archives were living history. Not simply past events, but knowing how those events would impact the lives of people today and into the future."

In her 18 years of membership at Nativity Parish in Green Bay, she served on the parish council, the pastoral services committee, the education committee and as a Eucharistic minister. She was also known as a baker and loved to make soups.

"Sr. Ella was kind, gentle, faithful and very helpful," said Fr. Larry Canavera, associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Menasha. Sr. Ella was his secretary when he was diocesan director of parish council service and development. "She was very helpful by being generous with her time and her attention, and very conscientious. She'd be alert to things that would get people the service they deserved."

Bishop Robert Banks called Sr. Ella "a good friend and a very strong supporter of our Catholic schools. She stayed actively involved in ministry as long as her health made it possible."

Sr. Ella Kaster was born on Aug. 15, 1925, in Green Bay, the daughter of the late Joseph and Ella (Duggan) Kaster. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on Sept. 15, 1945 and made her final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.

Mass of Resurrection was held on Nov. 6 at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis. Burial was in Nazareth Cemetery.

Survivors include her brother, Joseph (Jane) of Green Bay, a brother-in-law, Clayton Maloney, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph Retirement Fund, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111.