H. Dorothy Townsell, BVM (Mildred Ann)
H. Dorothy Townsell, BVM (Mildred Ann) died Friday, March 18, 2016, at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. Visitation of the cremated remains will be held from 10–11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 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.
She was born in Streator, Ill., on July 20, 1912, to William and Clare Whalen Townsell. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1932, from Sacred Heart Parish, Caney, Kan. She professed first vows on March 19, 1935, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1940.
Dorothy was on the faculty of Clarke University, Dubuque, and Mundelein College, Chicago. She was a secondary school teacher in Burlington, Council Bluffs, and Davenport, Iowa; Milwaukee, Wis.; Saint Paul, Minn.; Rock Island, Ill.; and Los Angeles, Calif. She served as microbiologist/research technician in Minneapolis, Minn., and in companion ministry in Streator, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers: James T., William, Edward, and Leo; and sisters Marie Townsell and Irene O’Brien. She is survived by sisters Catherine Voisinet, Pensacola, Fla.; and Mildred Willett, Elma, N.Y.; nieces; nephews; and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with whom she shared life for 83 years.
Sister H. Dorothy Townsell, BVM (Mildred Ann)
Funeral Welcome
Marian Hall Chapel, March 29, 2016
Good afternoon and welcome to the celebration of the life of our Sister Dorothy Townsell.
Four months after the sinking of the Titanic, Helena Dorothy Townsell was born on July 20, 1912, in Streator, Ill., the eldest of nine children born to William and Clara Whalen Townsell. Big families ran in her family; she had 37 nieces and nephews. In an interview, Dorothy said, “Their progeny included the artist Patrick Willett . . . also workers with disabled children, a player for the Pittsburgh hockey team, twins who are models, and an archeologist. You don’t have to read the funny papers to come up with entertaining family stories.”
Dorothy’s first contact with BVMs was as a junior at Clarke University. She was impressed with Sister Theresa Francis McDade and Sister Therese Langerbeck who were in charge of boarders. Dorothy entered the congregation on Sept. 8, 1932, received the name Mildred Ann upon reception on March 19, 1933, and professed first vows on March 19, 1935. She lived 83 years as a Sister of Charity.
Dorothy spent over 30 years in high schools teaching mainly biology and home economics. She was missioned in Iowa at St. Paul in Burlington, Assumption in Davenport, St. Francis in Council Bluffs, and Clarke University in Dubuque; in Illinois at Alleman in Rock Island and Mundelein College in Chicago; in California at St. Brendan Choir School in Los Angeles; in Wisconsin at Holy Angels Academy in Milwaukee; and in Minnesota at Our Lady of Peace in St. Paul.
Dorothy commented, “My favorite mission was Our Lady of Peace in St. Paul. The parents were as much a part of the school community as the students. There were so many vocations from that school. Many kept in touch with us. Sister Mary Adorinus McGuire was the superior. She gave the school a touch of elegance.”
Former student and author, Susanne Sebesta Heimbuch, described her encounter with Dorothy at Our Lady of Peace in an article published in Ramsey County History, the historical society’s magazine. She wrote, “Sister Mary Mildred, BVM, was my homeroom and religion teacher. She also taught biology . . . She charged through the hallway from lab to homeroom like a steamship at full power—tall, purposeful and fast. We scattered when we saw her coming.”
After leaving teaching, Dorothy worked as a research technician and a microbiologist for the Food and Drug Administration in Minneapolis, Minn., for six years. She left to spend 10 years providing companion care for her mother and her aunt Rosalie Whalen after which she resided at Wright Hall before moving to Mount Carmel in 2010.
Dorothy loved flowers and plants and was a “plant doctor” for the activities department. When weather permitted, she would start her day by going outdoors to breathe in the joy and freshness of the outdoors and relish nature. Dorothy also loved to travel. She was crazy about trains and once she rode across the country from Florida to Los Angeles. She was an avid learner who, despite physical ailments, continued to take classes.
She valued the arts and savored anything that was read to her, especially materials from the Chicago Tribune about arts, architecture and music. Chicago was one of her favorite cities and the Chicago Art Institute one of her favorite places where, if you were lucky enough to take her tour, she would eagerly share even the smallest details about her favorite paintings. She was a delightful conversationalist.
Family and friends were very important to Dorothy, who managed to stay connected even through great distances. It was essential to her that she finished updating the family birthday list, which she did shortly before she died. Dorothy was very thoughtful of others, and managed to convince those who insisted on sending her gifts to send ones that could be shared or given to others. She was famous for making boxes out of greeting cards, filling them with chocolates and giving them as gifts.
St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” Filled with this hope and the joy of Easter, we recall with love and gratitude the long earthly life of Dorothy and celebrate her entrance into eternal life.