Gossens, Sister Illumina Catherine b. 11 Feb 1907 De Pere, Brown, Wisconsin, USA d. 26 Apr 1990 Wheaton, Dupage, Illinois, USA: 1FAMILYTREE Genealogy

1907 - 1990 (83 years) Has 10 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree.

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Name	Gossens, Catherine
Prefix	Sister Illumina
Born	11 Feb 1907	De Pere, Brown, Wisconsin, USA
Gender	Female
Religious Vows	Aft 1925
Died	26 Apr 1990	Wheaton, Dupage, Illinois, USA
Obituary	Aft 26 Apr 1990
Sister M Illumina (Catherine) Gossens of the Humility of Jesus passed away April 26, 1990 at the age of 83. She was the daugther of Mary (DeCleene) and Herman Gossens. Catherine (Sister Illumina) Gossens was born February 11,1907, in DePere, Wisconsin. In 1918 the Gossens family moved to Kimberly. In July, 1923, Catherine entered the Franciscan Sisters in St. Louis, where the motherhouse was then located. In 1929, she took her final vows and also received an R.N. from the St. Anthony's Hospital School of Nursing. She later (1937) received a B.S. in education from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee. In 1933, Sister Illumina came to Milwaukee to work at St. Joseph's Hospital. She stayed there 20 years, 14 years as night supervisor, one year as medical nursing unit supervisor, and five years as supervisor of the obstetrics department. Next, she returned to St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis, where she was supervisor of the obstetrics department from 1953 to 1961. In 1961, Sister Illumina returned to Milwaukee, this time assigned to St. Michael Hospital (which was founded in 1941 and moved to the present site in 1957) as nursing service director. Sister Illumina became president of St. Michael in 1964. She held the position for eleven years. During her tenure, the hospital grew dramatically, to 405 beds with the addition of the north units, and in programs, services, medical staff size, quality and reputation. Like her father, all four of her brothers, a sister and several nieces and nephews, Sister Illumina, in 1973, was for a short while an "employee of sorts" for Kimberly Clark. She spent a day at a studio in Chicago filming a 30-second TV spot for Kimbies disposable diapers. She and two 10 month-old babies were the "stars" of the commercial, which was subsequently aired many times. Sister Illumina received a substantial talent fee for her day's work, which she divided between the building fund for the north addition and a fund for retired Franciscan sisters. Sister Illumina lives in community with three other Wheaton Franciscans in a small home on 25th Street, across from the hospital. Because she often works evenings and weekends, she finds time on spring and summer days for her two favorite leisure pursuits, fishing and gardening. Her large fruit and vegetable garden is varied, weedless and productive! One summer morning, Sister Illumina paused after several hour's work in the garden, to reflect on her life and the joy and satisfaction she finds in what she is doing. "I am very fortunate to be still a partner in the Lord's work," she said. "Although I have always been happy in my choices to become a nun, and to go into nursing and hospital administration, I think the time I have now to be with people when they are sick and afraid and to listen to them and pray with them is the greatest luxury I have ever enjoyed." She is survived by brothers Joseph (Marie) Gossens, Norbert Gossens and Rene (Norma) Gossens, sisters Sister (Gertrude) Fidelis Gossens, Agnes Never and Cecilia (Frank) Brooks and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Mary (DeCleene) and Herman Gossens, brother Arthur (Ole) (Kate) Gossens, brother-in-law Fred Never.
Person ID	I173654	1FamilyTree
Last Modified	16 May 2018

Father	Gossens, Herman, b. 8 Apr 1876, De Pere, Brown, Wisconsin, USA , d. 21 Jul 1949, Kimberly, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA (Age 73 years)
Mother	DeCleene, Mary, b. 18 Apr 1876, d. 14 Apr 1948, Kimberly, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA (Age 71 years)
Family ID	F15790	Group Sheet \| Family Chart