Sister Dennis O’Connor

Sister Dennis O’Connor, CSA, baptized Doris Julia, died January 27, 2025, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Doris was born May 15, 1923, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Bernard M. and Catherine M. Siepe O’Connor. She attended St. Florian’s Catholic Grade School in Milwaukee where she met the Sisters of St. Agnes. Doris entered St. Agnes Convent in 1939 and earned her high school diploma from St. Agnes High School. She made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Dennis on August 15, 1943, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sister Dennis spent her life as a Sister of St. Agnes serving her sisters as a homemaker, driver, and assistant at the CSA retirement centers in Fond du Lac—Nazareth Heights, and Nazareth Court and Center. For thirty-one years she was the homemaker for her sisters ministering in local communities in Pennsylvania, New York, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Her boundless energy, her ready spirit, and her commitment to fostering joyful community life marked these years of service. Assigned to St. Luke’s Parish in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, in 1974, Sister provided pastoral care to parishioners while serving as the homemaker for the CSA community ministering in the parish. In 1980, she became the homemaker and driver for the sisters at Beloit Catholic High School, Beloit, Wisconsin. Beginning in 1986, Sister Dennis found her greatest joy serving the retired and infirm sisters at Nazareth Heights in Fond du Lac. She worked as an assistant to the local coordinators, doing whatever was needed to care for her sisters. She helped prepare and carry out the move of the sisters to Nazareth Court and Center in November 1998. She herself became a resident of Nazareth Court and Center at the time of this move and continued to assist the local coordinators. One of the treasured memories of the CSA community about Sister Dennis during this time was her seven years of companionship and devoted care of Sister Claude Feldner, CSA, until her death at the age of 109 in 2008. Sister continued to serve where needed until her own health warranted that she receive care herself. Even as her health declined, she remained engaged in the life of the community and was a source of ongoing support for the staff until the time of her death.

Preceding Sister Dennis in death were her parents; her sisters, Jane Theisen, Kathleen Wilkum, Arline Fritz, Winifred Bogenski; her brother, Bernard C. O’Connor.

Sister is survived by her nieces, nephews, their families, and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and

12:00 – 1:30 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A Prayer Service in honor of Sister Dennis will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Thomas Zelinski, OFM, Cap., presiding.

Cremation will follow the service. Burial will take place on a later date in St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.