Elizabeth Welter, BVM (Prudentia)
Elizabeth Welter, BVM, 93, of Caritas Center, 1130 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, passed away Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at Caritas Center.
Visitation will be from 9–11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, in the Marian Hall Chapel, followed by a prayer service at 11 a.m. Funeral liturgy will be at 1:30 p.m. Burial is in the Mount Carmel cemetery.
Elizabeth was an elementary school teacher at St. Mary/St. Raphael, Dubuque, Iowa; and an elementary and secondary school teacher in Casper, Wyo.; Tucson and Phoenix, Ariz.; and Los Angeles, Pasadena, Burbank, Tujunga and San Francisco, Calif. She also served in various office positions in Mission Hills and North Hollywood, Calif.
She was born in Chicago on Sept. 9, 1922, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ries Welter. She entered the BVM congregation on Feb. 2, 1939. She made her first profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1941, and her final profession on Aug. 15, 1946.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by a sister, Mary Josephine Tanner, Palm Desert, Calif.; her nieces; and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with whom she shared life for 77 years.
Sister Elizabeth Welter, BVM (Prudentia)
Funeral Welcome
Marian Hall Chapel, Aug. 22, 2016
Good afternoon and welcome to the celebration of life of our Sister Elizabeth Welter.
Elizabeth Susan Welter was born on Sept. 5, 1922, in Chicago, the first child of John and Elizabeth (Ries) Welter. She was later joined by her sister Mary Josephine. Her father worked as a salesman, a very difficult career during the Depression, and sometimes faced unemployment.
Elizabeth attended St. Andrew ES and the Immaculata HS. Halfway through her junior year, possibly hastened by her mother’s death, she entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1939. She received the name Prudentia upon her reception on Aug. 15, 1939, professed first vows on Aug.15, 1941, and lived 77 years as a BVM.
Elizabeth taught in elementary schools for 26 years. Her first mission was at St. Anthony in Casper, Wyo., followed by St. Mary in Dubuque, Iowa. In Arizona, she was missioned at All Saints in Tucson and St. Francis Xavier, St. Agnes and St. Matthew in Phoenix. Her missions in California included St. Bernard in Los Angeles, St. Philip in Pasadena, St. Robert Bellarmine in Burbank, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Tujunga.
Elizabeth recalled those early years when extremely large classes were the norm, including one year when she had over 70 fifth grade students. At least she wasn’t the first grade teacher with 90 students! “The students and their parents were most responsive and worked with us,” wrote Elizabeth. “It was always, ‘Sister says . . .’ and they did it.” In 1967, she transitioned into secondary education and for the next 16 years taught high school mathematics at Xavier and Brophy in Phoenix and Loyola in Los Angeles. Even though she was a perfectionist, she was well-liked as a teacher and a tutor for her patience, understanding and guidance.
Eventually, Elizabeth sought employment in the public sector, including an accounting position at Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, Calif., a residual administrator position for Columbia Pictures, and as a word processor at the Women’s Care Center in North Hollywood. In her autobiography she wrote, “It is amazing and startling that even without [knowing that I’m a religious] they treat[ed] me with respect and at times ask[ed] to speak to me . . . about their problems—searching for answers and help. For all I know that may be where our ministry lies—to be a healer, to work among [the people] and represent Christ in the marketplace.”
Elizabeth was a woman of stately appearance, rather quiet and private, but pleasant, friendly and multi-talented. She used her artistic abilities to create spectacular bulletin boards for her classrooms. An incredible seamstress, she was able to sew clothes that looked professionally made. She could crochet and knit and, after moving to Mount Carmel, taught both at the Roberta Kuhn Center.
Unknown to many, Elizabeth was a marvelous baker who enjoyed making cinnamon rolls for special occasions. She was accomplished on the computer and used it, along with the Mount Carmel bulletin boards, to stay informed about community and world events, as well as enjoying a few games of solitaire in the afternoon. She loved the desert southwest, but also enjoyed the beautiful flower gardens at Mount Carmel. She was proud of her Luxembourg heritage and delighted to have visited the country during her two trips to Europe.
Elizabeth was afflicted throughout her life with multiple physical problems which at times hindered her ability to engage fully in ministry. When asked if she would choose religious life all over again, she responded, “Yes I would. For the simple reason that I did not do it to achieve a high position in an academic field or any other. Nor was it for any person or to be regarded with awe when met by others while wearing the [traditional] garb that was very much in vogue in the early 1800s! My reason was and still is a deep commitment to Our Lord to do, to endure, and to accept whatever was in His all-providential plan.”
Certainly Elizabeth endured and accepted, but her suffering has ended. From the prophet Isaiah we will hear, “For the yoke that burdened [her], the pole on [her] shoulder . . . [God,] you have smashed . . . You have brought [her] abundant joy and great rejoicing.” We now celebrate her life and rejoice with her as she enters eternal life.