For more than 160 years, School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) made a home in Elm Grove, Wisconsin, just outside of Milwaukee. Once the site of a convent, chapel, working farm, healthcare facility, girls’ orphanage and small school, SSND made the decision to sell the Notre Dame of Elm Grove property in 2018, and sisters who had been living there eventually relocated to Trinity Woods in 2021. Today, the Elm Grove property has been redeveloped as an amenity-filled community of apartment and single-family homes. The development was named Caroline Heights, in honor of Mother Caroline Friess who led the congregation in North American and initially founded the Elm Grove location for SSND. The Notre Dame of Elm Grove Cemetery remains and serves as the final resting place for more than 3,000 sisters.

Recognizing the need to commemorate the history of SSND and honor the many sisters laid to rest on the grounds, a committee of sisters and staff commissioned artist Gianfranco Tassara and his team at Inspired Artisans to create a monument at the site.

Born in Peru, of Italian descent, Gianfranco arrived in Milwaukee when he was 20. He initially worked in construction, but a chance meeting at a party led him to an opportunity to work at a local art studio that created and restored religious art. With the help of a mentor, he developed his own skills and talents as an artist and opened his own studio in 1997.

Gianfranco and his studio specialize in sculptures, mosaics, monuments, baptismal fonts and stained-glass creations for churches and religious organizations across the United States and even the world.

In the case of SSND, this is the second time that he has helped illustrate the early days of the congregation, focusing on the stories of Blessed Theresa and Mother Caroline.His first installation was a series of reliefs which include the figures of Blessed Theresa and Mother Caroline created in sculpture and built into painted scenes. The reliefs were initially displayed in the Heritage Room in the castle building at Notre Dame of Elm Grove, but then were relocated outside of the Mother Caroline Chapel at Trinity Woods. When SSND sought Gianfranco’s assistance in moving the pieces, he recalled walking around the grounds and noting the opportunity for creating something that would remain to educate the local community about the sisters who came before them. With this, the conversation about building the monument began.

“There are 3,000-plus sisters buried there. The years are going to pass,” said Gianfranco, “and if nothing is done, people wouldn’t know how this started or this story. It is basically like a time capsule.”

The monument again embraces the foundational storylines of SSND. The piece is three-sided – one side depicting Blessed Theresa walking with students, another showing Mother Caroline and the horse that led her to settle in Elm Grove when it refused to continue the journey any further and the third side featuring the text of the SSND Mission Statement. The monument is then crowned with the symbol of the SSND order on the top.

“I think it’s interesting that we initially presented the monument two ways, four-sided or three-sided,” said Gianfranco. “At the end, it was decided to do a three –sided. Three is a very balanced number, it talks of the Trinity.”

In October, Gianfranco joined alongside sisters, including members of the Provincial Council and visiting General Council, staff and guests for the official dedication of the monument. The entire project was funded by an SSND donor in memory of his deceased wife. She will forever be remembered in prayer whenever anyone visits this beautiful monument in the Notre Dame of Elm Grove Cemetery.

“I am very grateful that I was able to put together this project and see the sisters very pleased,” said Gianfranco. “It’s an honor and I am very grateful for the opportunity.”

Sister Debra Sciano, Provincial Leader for the SSND Central Pacific Province, said, “Gianfranco has become part of our SSND family throughout the many years we have been blessed to know him and his talented team. Their artistry and sensitivity to our history, charism and mission demonstrate the importance of collaboration with others touched by SSND and the need to recognize our rich heritage, as well as our living community. We are extremely grateful to all who made this beautiful monument possible.”