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Sr. Virginia Handrup, November 21, 2011
Sister Virginia Handrup graced the halls of St. Joseph High School, (now St. Joseph Catholic Academy) for over 53 years, graciously sharing her talents as a teacher, a colleague, a mentor and a friend.
After one year of service at St. Joseph Elementary School in Wilmette, Illinois, Sister Theodore Marie as she was known pre-Vatican II, began a career that had a major impact on the lives of multiple generations of St. Joseph families. She dedicated herself to the ministry of teaching and grew into a true St. Joseph High School icon. After Vatican II, Sister “Teddy Marie” as some students affectionately referred to her, returned to her baptismal name of Sister Virginia Handrup.
From the inception of her teaching career, Sister Virginia established a standard of excellence for herself and her students that was the benchmark of her classroom. She never allowed failure to become an option as her ultimate goal was always student success. Sister Virginia transformed her students into critical thinkers, who operate at a higher level than even they thought possible. Former students regularly returned to visit with Sister to share with her their college triumphs, always acknowledging the vital role she played in their achievements. She humbly considered teaching a privilege and often commented on the joy she found in the classroom.
To her colleagues, Sister Virginia was the epitome of an educator. She set the standard to which the entire SJCA faculty aspires. Her integrity was unquestioned, and her professionalism unparalleled. Sister Virginia was a model, to both students and staff alike, of dedication to the gospel values nurtured by Catholic education and of commitment to rigorous standards of academic excellence.
Sister Virginia was well decorated throughout her teaching career. Among the numerous accolades received have the Excellence in Teaching Award presented by the Greater Milwaukee Association of the Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Chapter, The American Association of University Women’s Educational Excellence Award, Phi Delta Kappa’s Outstanding Educator Award, The Teacher of the Year Award given by the National Catholic Society of Foresters, The Educator of the Year Award presented by the Wisconsin Association of Principals of Catholic Secondary Schools, and the 1999 St. Joseph Award presented by the St. Joseph High School Board of Trustees. Upon receiving the St. Joseph Award, it was stated that “Sister Virginia epitomizes the heart, the soul, and all that is good and Godly about St. Joseph High School. In a day and age when America is obsessed with sound bite answers and quick fix solutions, this educator remains steadfast to her values and the truth she feels in her heart. She demanded total effort all the time. In return, she received not disdain or contempt, but rather intense loyalty from her students.
As we mourn her loss, the entire St. Joseph family recognizes the enormous impact Sister Virginia has had, not only on generations of students, but on the local Catholic community as well. Her legacy of high academic standards, even higher moral values and an expectation of excellence was an integral part of St. Joseph High School and is forever ingrained in the fabric of St. Joseph Catholic Academy.
Mass and visitation will be held:
Monday, December 5, 2011
School Sisters of St. Francis Mother House
1515 South Layton Boulevard
Milwaukee, WI 53215
10:00 am – Wake
10:30 am – Service
11:30 am – Liturgy
Followed by Lunch
2:00 pm – Burial
Mass of Remembrance:
Saturday, January 7th, 5pm
St. Joseph Catholic Academy Arneson Auditorium
Celebrant: Fr. Henry Maibusch (Uncle of Sr. Virginia)
Click here for more information.
To donate to the Sr. Virginia Handrup Memorial Fund
Gianna Rose Debish, infant daughter of Mark and Laura (Pienkowski) Debish, was welcomed into this world on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at 10:32 p.m. Columbia-St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee.
At 19 weeks gestation, Gianna Rose gave her family the greatest gift of love and blessed them with three hours of life. In this short time, she was able to cuddle with her mommy and have her first dance with her daddy before she took her last breath.
Gianna will be deeply missed by her parents, Mark and Laura; her big sister, Anya; paternal grandparents, Michael and Audrey Debish of Kenosha; paternal grandparents, Paul and Deb Pienkowski of Black Earth, Wis., and Mary and Tim Baas of Kenosha. She will also be remembered by her paternal great grandmother, Audrey Hegener of Northbrook, Ill.; maternal great grandparents, George and Elizabeth "Betty" Pienkowski of Rhinelander and Phyllis Specht of Kenosha and Bev Baas of Kenosha. Gianna is further survived by numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
Welcoming Gianna into God's Kingdom were her two uncles and her great grandparents.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Gianna at St. Peter Catholic Church. Memorial remembrances for the Debish family may be directed to Care Net Family Resource Center, 2222 Roosevelt Rd., Kenosha, WI 53143.
Olga Linne Zarate - 14 years of age - passed away early Tuesday morning at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee, WI. She is the daughter of Amada Zarate the former Before & After Care supervisor at SJCA Lower Campus. Olga was home schooled for her 8th grade but had many friends at St. Joseph Catholic Academy where her mom worked.
Emily Maki, age 14, daughter of Gregg (SJCA Director of Technology) and Terrie Maki and sister to Kirsten, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She was born in Milwaukee, November 15, 1996 daughter of Gregg and Terrie (Nee: Moore) Maki.
Emily had just finished the 8th grade at the Prairie School where she was a Hilpert Scholar. She was sports minded and enjoyed basketball, golf, soccer, Irish Dance, and participated in the Iron Girl Triathlon. She coordinated the local Austin Powers Fan Club and enjoyed making movies. She really loved singing, playing the guitar and acting in plays. Emily was a type 1 diabetic and was very active supporting various fundraisers for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. She was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter and friend who will be dearly missed.
Surviving are her parents, Gregg and Terrie; her sister, Kirsten; grandmother, Dolores Maki; grandfather, Kenneth Moore; great-grandmother, Lenore Moore; aunts and uncles, Kenneth (Liz) Moore, Darlene (Mike) Sanew, Cindy Johnson, Laura Maki, David (Susan) Maki; cousins, Meagan, Kenneth, and Kaitlyn Moore, Ashley Sanew, Patrick Johnson (Katie), Jason (Destiny) Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Stephanie Maki (Fiancee Scott Hoffman), Jason (Haley) Meekma; best friends, Camille Gobeil, Annabel Ware, and Annie Zlevor; many other relatives and so many other close friends too many to mention; her dog Coconut and Sally the Cat. She was preceded in death by her grandpa, Ronald Maki and grandma, Susan Moore.
Memorials to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation have been suggested.
“See you in another world Emmers...We love you and so does God!”
Ellen Rose Santarelli, 32, of Kenosha, passed away peacefully on Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, from complications associated with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
She had previously taught computer applications at St. Joseph High School and was very instrumental in bringing back the Bold Gold Store at St. Joe's. Ellen's many joys included coaching the St. Joseph High School Varsity Volleyball Team, the Wisconsin Juniors Volleyball Team and the St. Joseph High School Varsity Softball Team. She also volunteered her time with the Little Leaguers of Kenosha. Ellen loved being a spectator of many of her nieces and nephews sporting events and being with her family and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, at 11:15 a.m. from the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 noon in the St. Joseph High School Auditorium, 2401 69th Street (Use the 69th St. Entrance). Entombment will follow in All Saints Mausoleum. A visitation for Ellen will be held on Friday, Aug. 12, after 4 p.m. at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home.
Memorial remembrances in Ellen's name may be made to:
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 200 S. Executive Dr., Ste. 203, Brookfield, WI 53005; Little Leaguers of Kenosha, 1804 - 89th Pl., Kenosha, WI 53143; St. Joseph Catholic Academy, 2401 69th Street, Kenosha, WI 53143
John Schieble, grandfather of Dave Witthun (SJCA Director of Athletics), passed away. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 15, 2011 in Pewaukee, WI.
