Sister Jeanne d’ Arc, 96, Sister of Mercy of the Holy Cross, died March 20, 2014, under the care of Aspirus Hospice and the staff at Bell Tower Residence in Merrill.
Sister Jeanne d’ Arc was born Sept. 10, 1917, in Sheffield, ND, daughter of the late Anthony and Marianna (Reiter) Kilwein and given the name Celestine. She entered Holy Cross Convent in Merrill on Sept. 10, 1933, and celebrated her First Profession on Aug. 22, 1937.
Sister received her education at Model High School, Dickinson, ND; Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati; College of St. Catherine, St. Paul; College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, and St. Louis University, St. Louis.
During her 77 years of ministry as a Holy Cross Sister, she was present in classrooms and libraries. Sister ministered in Haymarsh, ND; Cincinnati, OH; and teacher, librarian and principal at Our Lady of the Holy Cross High School, Merrill, from 1948-1967. She was an instructor and librarian at Menard Junior College in Merrill from 1967-1974. She worked as the Good Samaritan Health Center librarian in Merrill from 1974-2001. Sister retired to Bell Tower Residence in 2001 but continued to work in the provincial library on Holy Cross Campus up until her death. Sister volunteered at Bell Tower Residence where she welcomed visitors on weekends in the lobby and also took the library cart to residents. In an earlier interview Sister Jeanne d’ Arc said she enjoyed all the ministries she worked in, but one that stood out was her contact with the mentally handicapped in Lincoln County. This came about while serving on the Lincoln County Commission on Aging. She felt a closeness to these individuals while giving them loving support.
Sister is survived by her family of Holy Cross Sisters and associates, sister-in-law Dorothy Kilwein of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, along with nieces and nephews.
Sister enjoyed arts and crafts, crocheting, knitting, quilting, reading and listening to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball games on the radio.
Mass of Resurrection will be held on Tuesday at 10 a.m. in Holy Cross Chapel at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill, with Father Jim Baraniak, O. Praem, officiating. Visitation will take place in Holy Cross Chapel Monday, March 24, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Tuesday from 9 a.m. till time of service. Burial will take place in St. Francis Cemetery, Merrill.
Memorials can be made to Bell Tower Residence, 1500 O’Day Street, Merrill, WI 54452. The Waid Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.