Sister Rosa Inés Silva Sándigo

Sister Rosa Inés Silva Sándigo, CSA, baptized Julia Clementina, died peacefully, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on July 26, 2026.

Clementina, as she was known to family and friends, was born December 8, 1920, in San Marcos, Carazo, Nicaragua, the daughter of Octavio César Silva and Dolores Catalina Sándigo. She grew up in a closely knit blended family with her older sister, Teodorita, and seven half-brothers and half-sisters who lived nearby. Her mother, Dolores, died when Clementina was two years old, a loss that affected her throughout her life. In her youth, Clementina loved to ride her horse, her bike, and a small motorcycle. She played many team sports and was skilled in field and track competition. She completed her elementary education in San Marcos and her secondary education at the Divina Pastora Boarding School in Managua, Nicaragua. Following high school, she attended the Normal School at Divina Pastora and was certified as a teacher in Nicaragua. While completing her studies, she also worked as an informal apprentice in her uncle’s pharmacy and dreamed of being a pharmacist. She enrolled at the University of León, Nicaragua, to pursue a degree in pharmacy. Her studies were interrupted by student uprisings. Feeling unsafe, she left school and never returned to these studies.

Still searching for her life-call in her late twenties, she was inspired by news from the Divina Pastora Sisters that missionaries, Sisters of St. Agnes, were beginning to serve on Nicaragua’s Atlantic coast. She became a candidate in their formation program in Waspam, Nicaragua, on June 5, 1948. After six months, living and working with the pioneer missionaries in Waspam, she entered St. Agnes Convent, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in February 1949. She made first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Rosa Inés on August 15, 1951.

Immediately after her religious profession, Sister Rosa Inés lived at St. Agnes Hospital, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, working as a lab technician in training and taking science classes at Marian College, Fond du Lac. She returned to Nicaragua before completing her studies because a teacher was needed at Colegio Niño Jesús School in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. From 1953–1985, Sister taught elementary and secondary students in Waspam and Puerto Cabezas. In Rosita, she was principal of the elementary and secondary school by day and director of basic adult classes at night. Her last full-time position in education was principal in Nejapa, a rural area of Managua. Following a sabbatical year in the United States, Sister returned to Nicaragua, serving in varied roles for her CSA sisters, including formation ministry, administration of local houses, and as regional treasurer, while volunteering in local parishes where she was living. Sister was certified as a ham radio operator, providing regular communications among the CSA Sisters and Capuchin Franciscan Friars serving in the country.

In 2005, Sister retired in the United States and in time became a legal permanent resident. As a resident of Nazareth Court & Center in Fond du Lac, she served daily as a seamstress for the sisters. She also assisted with several translation projects, including the Spanish translation of the Handbook for the Taycheedah Women’s Prison. For several years, she taught Spanish classes to small groups of sisters. She enjoyed doing needlework for the sisters’ craft sales and creating beauty with her craft skills, calligraphy, and love for decorating. Sister remained actively engaged in the life of the retirement community until health issues made her participation more difficult. She was grateful for the loving care that she received until the time of her death.

Sister Rosa Inés was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Orlando; her sisters, Julia Clementina as an infant, and Teodorita; half-brothers, Rodolfo, Eduardo, and Juan José; half-sisters Ester, Esmeralda, Emma, and Elvia.

Sister is survived by nieces, nephews, other family members, and by the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.

Services for Sister Rosa Inés will be held on Monday, August 3, 2026.

Visitation will be held 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 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 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, with Father Tom Zelinski, OFM Cap., presiding.

Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Memorials may be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center for their devoted care of Sister Rosa Inés.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.