VandeHey, Sister Marietta Mary Ellen S.S.N.D.

Other Events:

• Religious Vows: 10 Jul 1956; School Sisters of Notre Dame
• Obituary: Aft 4 Aug 2010; School Sister Notre Dame Web Site

Notes:

Obituary:
Sister Marietta Vandehey was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, on November 25, 1930, and was baptized Mary Ellen five days later in St. Joseph Church there, the oldest of nine children. Her parents had moved to the Upper Peninsula from Wisconsin after their marriage in 1928.
Her father, Leonard J. Vandehey, was born near Marshfield; her mother, Ione M. Carpenter, in Fond du Lac. Her father was employed by the Ford Motor Company until 1940, when he was partially disabled at his job. Because of this the Vandehey family moved back to Wisconsin.
Sister Marietta attended Lincoln Public School. She recalls loving the vacation school where the Sisters of Mercy prepared her for First Holy Communion. When the family moved from Iron Mountain to Wisconsin, they were able to attend Catholic schools. It was at St. Mary's, Neillsville, Wisconsin, that Mary Ellen first met the SSNDs.
Her family was pleased to hear that she wanted to join the SSNDs after graduation. She left for Longwood in Chicago on September 11, 1944, and returned to Neillsville one month later - stricken by homesickness. She finished her freshman year at Neillsville High School, spent her sophomore year at St. John's High in Marshfield, and then graduated from Loyal High School in Loyal in 1948.
Her parents moved to Auburndale, Wisconsin, in 1949. Meanwhile, Mary Ellen was employed in the office of the Northern Auto Supply Company of Marshfield until she entered the candidature in 1954 and received the name Sister Marietta at reception.
She began her teaching ministry in 1957 at St. Anthony, Milwaukee, and taught middle school or junior high in various Wisconsin cities: Port Washington; Black River Falls; Stevens Point; Marshfield (Sacred Heart); and West Allis (Holy Assumption).
Sister Marietta loved teaching and also loved sharing her interests in math, sports, world affairs, family, music, and poetry with her community and her family. She brought a sense of humor and lightheartedness to all her relationships.
In 2000 Sister Marietta began volunteering at Havenwood Nursing Home, bringing warm-hearted concern to our SSNDs there. When the sisters moved to Theresa II at NDEG, she continued her attentive service to them there. She was greatly missed when she became ill.
During the last months of her life, Sister Marietta shared her joyful spirit and many memories with her family members and friends who joined her in singing and telling stories. Those at her funeral smiled through tears at the appropriateness of the final hymn, "How Can I Keep from Singing."
Sister Mary Luke Baldwin
Sister Marietta received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in history and minors in German and English from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wis. and a Master of Arts in education from Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa. She worked in education for over 40 years, serving as a teacher and principal. When she left teaching in 2000, she ministered to elderly sisters. She retired to the Notre Dame of Elm Grove Community in 2009.
Sister Marietta's ministry locations included:
St. Anthony, Milwaukee, Wis.
St. Mary, Port Washington, Wis.
St. Peter, Port Washington, Wis.
St. Joseph, Black River Falls, Wis.
St. Stephen, Stevens Point, Wis.
Sacred Heart, Marshfield, Wis.
Holy Assumption, West Allis, Wis.
Havenwood Nursing Home, Milwaukee, Wis.
Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, Wis.
Sister Marietta Vandehey is survived by her siblings Leonard Vandehey, Donald (Shirley) Vandehey, Frank (Pat) Vandehey, Margaret (Tom) Kraus, Mildred (Richard) Schill and Michael (Roberta) Vandehey; her sisters-in-law, Ardell Vandehey and Karen (Vandehey); nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and the SSND Community. A Wake Service and Mass of Christian Burial were celebrated August 9 at Holy Family Chapel, Notre Dame of Elm Grove, 13105 Watertown Plank Road. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the School Sisters of Notre Dame Retirement Fund is appreciated.