Women Honorees

Honoree

Sister Janice Fennewald, SSND

Transportation Coordinator
School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province

On behalf of Jim Butler Auto Group, we are pleased to honor Sister Janice Fennewald.

To know Sister Janice is to know love, peace and God’s grace. Her commitment to Christ and his children along with her undeniable sacrifices are to say the least, exemplary. She brings laughter and joy to all around her.

With all our love, we thank you, Sister Janice. You are a beautiful light in our lives.

Honoree

Patty Morrow, MA, LPC

Vice President – Behavioral Health Services
Mercy

Mercy is proud to honor Patty Morrow, who currently serves as Vice President of Behavioral Health Services for the Mercy Health System. Patty began her career in the mental health and social service field 33 years ago after graduating from St. Louis University School of Social Work (1990) and Webster University’s Graduate Counseling Psychology Program (1995). Patty has worked in professional and clinical roles as a community-based social worker and therapist, largely with women and families impacted by mental illness and substance-use disorders.

Over the last 24 years, Patty has served as a behavioral healthcare leader, developing and implementing a broad range of services to increase access to mental healthcare, including the launch of Mercy’s technology-enabled virtual behavioral health program that is now serving 32 Mercy hospitals across 3 states. In addition, Patty led efforts to stand-up an integrated behavioral health program within Mercy’s primary care network, which delivers access to behavioral healthcare to 300 primary care clinics.

Patty is very grateful for the many colleagues that have contributed to her professional fulfillment and development over many years. And, she is particularly indebted to the people with behavioral health challenges, whom she has served over the years, that have enriched her life in countless ways.

Honoree

Jami Waldron

Senior Vice President, Treasury Management Services
Midwest BankCentre

We enthusiastically nominate Jami Waldron to be recognized at the 2024 Women’s Leadership Luncheon. Jami’s commitment to exceptional customer service in Treasury Management is unparalleled. She truly cares about her clients and it shows — taking a hands-on approach to onboarding new customers and giving personalized attention to each one. Her dedication to her customers extends to their financial protection as well, proactively educating them on detecting, preventing, and navigating fraud. Within the organization, Jami’s successful efforts in negotiating a key service provider contract have significantly enhanced the Bank’s returns.

Jami’s contributions to the Bank and the community extend beyond her role. She is a linchpin in our Commercial Team, embodying the essence of a great leader and true peacemaker through her ability to build bridges and foster success.

Honoree

Jessica Horning

Chief Financial Officer
Milwaukee Catholic Home

Jessica Horning has served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Milwaukee Catholic home since January 2023. Since taking over this prestigious position, Jessica and her team have made a significant impact on the financial stability and efficiency of the organization. Before becoming CFO of Milwaukee Catholic Home, Jessica has over 20 years’ experience in nonprofit financial leadership, including Jewish Family Services, the YMCA, The Greater Milwaukee Foundation and The Medical College of Wisconsin. She also has experience serving as an auditor with Baker Tilly. Jessica completed her Bachelor of Business Administration—Accounting from the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee in 2005 and attained her Certified Public Accounting licensure in 2009. She is active in serving on the WICPA Educational Foundation Board of Directors and other committees and task forces benefiting the accounting profession, as well as a board member of the school communities in which her children attend. Jessica and her husband Will live in Greenfield, Wisconsin with their three children.

Honoree

Lauren Mueller

Board President
Notre Dame High School

Lauren Morrison Mueller is 2007 alumna of Notre Dame High School. In the spirit of being ever loyal to her alma mater, Lauren has jumped in wholeheartedly as the President of the Notre Dame High School’s Board of Directors these past two year. Lauren has done an exceptional job organizing and streamlining roles and responsibilities of those serving on the board to further enhance its work. Prior to her term on the board, Lauren was a consistent donor, volunteer, and supporter of Notre Dame High School. Lauren can be found helping with school productions and dance recitals, working a booth at the school’s annual Fall Festival, and attending various school events and functions.

In addition to serving Notre Dame High School, professionally Lauren is employed by FORVIS, LLP as the Senior Manager, HR Shared Services. Lauren is also a wife and mother of three young children.

Lauren truly embodies the mission of Notre Dame High School of being a confident, compassionate Christian woman leader, and we are thrilled to recognize the contributions she has made to the school.

Sister Honorees

Sister Margaret Berghold

Honored by Bruce Meredith and Mary Niederehe

Sister Margaret is my aunt, and it is difficult to imagine a better aunt. She is thoughtful, kind and so much fun. Recently, Sister Margaret celebrated her 100th birthday and our whole family was able to describe how Sister Margaret’s intellect, kindness and good humor had enriched our lives. We were able to hear how Sister Margaret’s teaching, tutoring and compassion had done so for others. Today we celebrate, as Jesus did, the peacemakers and Sister Margaret is truly a peacemaker. Her smile is given to all. She holds no grudges, always seeks to include, never exclude. She is passionate about teaching and education because she believes the more people understand about the world and each other, the more they would love both God and their neighbors.

Sister Barb Geers

Honored by The Honorable Andrew J. Gleeson

We all hold the memories of our Catholic grade school education dear. Mine are at Holy Angels school in East St. Louis, Illinois and began in the classroom of Sister Barb Geers, who I knew as Sister Marie Rosairre at the time. Sister Barb encouraged us to master reading and we excitedly accessed the SRAs that were in the back of that first-floor classroom. I love reading and words to this day. She was a kind but firm teacher who loved the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals. That makes the year 1967 happy and memorable for she and I and for the 1967 World Champion Cardinals.

Thank you, Sister Barb, as your contribution to my life that year has literally lasted a lifetime.

Sister Patricia Gravemann

Honored by Joan C. Harris

In honor of my dear cousin for her dedication and extra efforts to support the SSND retired sisters. She is always uplifting!

Sister Clarea Hotze †

Honored by Jack and Georgie Gibbs

Sister Clarea taught 7th and 8th grade at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic School in Alice, Texas, in the last 1950’s. I attended her classes in 1953-54 and 1954-55. She was a very inspirational teacher and expected the best from her students. She was a joyful and cheerful person, but a strict disciplinarian. She gave me the love of learning and the mastery of good study habits that carried me easily through public high school, college and later in life. Aside from my parents, Sister Clarea was the first major influence on my life.

Sister Rosemary Hufker †

Honored by Gerry Hufker

In memory of my big sister who meant so much to the family and to the SSND. We are grateful for all the work that she has done.

Sister Linda Jansen

Honored by Jack and Georgie Gibbs

In honor of Sister Linda Jansen and her 62 years of service with the School Sisters of Notre Dame. My wife and I traveled from Texas to attend the signature event in 2019 at the Motherhouse and Sister Linda hosted us for several days. She took us to visit the grave of Sister Clarea Hotze, who taught me in Alice, Texas. She also took us to The Sarah Community to visit Sister Mary Helen Hotze, Sister Clarea’s sister. Since that visit, Sister Linda has kept us informed about SSND activity through her continued contact with us.

Sister Mary Carla Koestner †

Honored by Catherine Weide

Sister Carla had a huge impact on my life. I took private piano lessons from her from 2nd grade until college. She also taught me to play the organ in church. Through those years, she and the rest of the sisters were a place of refuge, encouragement and love. She helped me be a strong person and confident in myself. I moved on to college and found a wonderful man to marry. My husband and I lived most of our life on the East Coast and then Florida. On our summer trips to Iowa, we would often stop in Burlington and then St. Louis to see her. At first she was disappointed that my husband was not Catholic, and he was not converting. But after several trips to St. Louis, she told me that he has been, and is, a good husband and father. He cares so much about me to go out of his way to visit a convent on our vacation.

Sister Grace Marie Mueller

Honored by Loyce Williams

I have known dear Sister Grace for many years. She was a lay teacher at the Academy of Notre Dame in Belleville, Illinois, when I was a student in the early to mid-fifties. The parishioners at St. Luke Parish in Belleville were blessed with her presence from 1991 to 2014. It is difficult to put into words how she was always there in good and bad times for each individual. She encouraged everyone, regardless of age, color, background or situation. She supported the Inner Faith Council, those living with AIDs and HIV, The Homeless Coalition, the parents of gay and lesbian children and more. She saw possibilities for growth and spiritual development for everyone, including me. It’s a blessing and an honor to know Sister Grace Mueller.

Sister Geraldine Neier

Honored by Mary Frey

As a child I remember Sister Geraldine attending our family reunions. My cousins and I were always in awe of her. She wore a habit, taught school, played the organ for mass and she was fun to be around. I had an extra privilege as Sister Geraldine was the flower girl in my mother and father’s wedding.

Later, when Sister Geraldine was in Africa, my mother (always a great letter writer-she knew cursive) corresponded with her. Mom always looked forward to her letters. Mom and Sister Geraldine’s brother Carl shared the letters and adventures in Africa. They always prayed for her safe return. God must have heard their prayers, as she was able to escape a very unsafe situation and return home.

I am happy to say Sister Geraldine is a relative of mine and I am privileged to honor her today.

Sister Frances Padberg †

Honored by Rabbi Susan Talve

I would like to honor Sister Frances of blessed memory who inspired many to live and laugh and love more fiercely as she worked for justice as a peacemaker. She was a religious woman of deep faith and a friend.

Sister Dorothy Venhaus †

Honored by Sister Barbara Neist, SSND, Mary Pancella and Claudia Wright

In honor of Sister Dorothy Venhaus, who enriched the lives of many as a music educator and organist both here and for many years in Japan.