Dominican Sister of Peace Rosemary (Sr. Joseph Mary) Kirsten, OP, (93), a native of Chicago, IL, died on December 18, 2020, at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, KY.

Sister Rosemary was born in 1927 to Harriet Mika and Max Kirsten, one of eight children.  She entered the congregation in 1947, made first profession in 1948, and took her final vows in 1951.

A self-professed lover of the “nitty-gritty details,” Sister Rosemary earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and Education from Siena College and her Master of Arts in Library Science from Rosary College.

Sr. Rosemary taught school in Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, and Puerto Rico for more than two decades. Her love of detail made her an excellent librarian in both public and parochial school libraries in Illinois and Nebraska, where she ministered for more than 15 years.

Sr. Rosemary also served as Sacristan and Adult Education Consultant at St. John Berchman Parish in Chicago, and the Social Service Director and Community Health and Education Secretary at Sherman Hospital.

Like most religious Sisters, when Sister Rosemary “retired,” she continued to serve the people of God and her Dominican community.  She volunteered her time at a hospital and parish in Elgin, IL, and later, as a part-time receptionist at Saint Catharine Motherhouse and Sansbury. She was also devoted to many causes, including the rights of the unborn, animal care organizations, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In her 72 years of religious life, Sr. Rosemary found many ways to serve God, the Church and her community, and she will be missed by her Dominican Sisters and by her nieces and nephews.

Sr. Rosemary was interred in a private graveside service on December 23, 2020, at the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery.  A memorial mass will be held later at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, KY.

To donate in Sr. Rosemary’s memory, please click here.

To view and download a PDF of Sr. Rosemary’s memorial, please click here.