[ Search ] [ PDF text ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
92_SR0560
LRB9218318HShs
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois learned with great sadness of the death of Sister M.
4 Gretchen Bergschneider of Springfield on Wednesday, October
5 9, 2002; and
6 WHEREAS, She was born August 16, 1918 in Alexander to
7 Joseph and Elsie May Bender Bergschneider; she attended
8 elementary school in Alexander and high school at Routt in
9 Jacksonville; and
10 WHEREAS, Sister M. Gretchen entered the novitiate of the
11 Dominican Sisters in 1938 and pronounced her vows in 1939;
12 for 16 years, she taught in Catholic elementary schools; she
13 began in Richmond, Michigan at St. Augustine's; she then went
14 on to teach in several Illinois Catholic schools, St.
15 Norbert's in Hardin, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's in
16 Chicago, and at St. Agnes and St. Patrick's in Springfield;
17 and
18 WHEREAS, Sister M. Gretchen taught math and science at
19 Sacred Heart Academy in Springfield from 1955 to 1963 and
20 from 1978 to 1986; during her first two years at Sacred Heart
21 Academy, she also served as prefect for Sienna Hall, the
22 residence hall for boarders; and
23 WHEREAS, In 1963, Sister M. Gretchen was a pioneer
24 faculty member of Rosary High School in Aurora; she taught
25 science and math at Rosary High School for fifteen years and
26 served part-time in guidance for seven years; and
27 WHEREAS, Sister M. Gretchen also served as a caregiver at
28 St. Monica's Home in Springfield, working with unwed mothers;
29 in 1986, she returned to St. John Bosco Parish in Chicago, to
30 serve as a Minister of Care, lead the CCD program and lector
31 on the weekends; she took communion to over 30 shut-ins each
-2- LRB9218318HShs
1 week, ran the food pantry, and visited the sick at home, in
2 nursing homes, and hospitals; she is said to have become the
3 eyes for those who could not see, ears for those who could
4 not hear, and wheels for those who needed groceries or a ride
5 to the doctor's office; and
6 WHEREAS, The passing of Sister M. Gretchen Bergschneider
7 has been deeply felt by many, especially her sister, Emma
8 Benson; her brothers, Joseph Bergschneider and Robert
9 Bergschneider; and many nieces and nephews; therefore, be it
10 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
11 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we extend our sincere
12 sympathy to the family and friends of Sister M. Gretchen
13 Bergschneider and mourn the loss of a great citizen of
14 Illinois whose devotion to the needs of others and faithful
15 zeal will long be remembered; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of Sister M. Gretchen Bergschneider
18 and to the Sisters of the Dominican Order in Springfield.