- ROCHESTER -- A Mass of Christian burial for Sister Dorothy Verkuilen will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Assisi Heights, Rochester.
Sister Dorothy Verkuilen (Sister Armand), 87, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, died Saturday (March 28, 2009).
Dorothy Florence Verkuilen was born on Feb. 13, 1922, in Kimberly Wis. After working for five years, she attended the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, where she graduated in 1949 with a bachelor's degree in social sciences. Following graduation, she worked five years with Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis., before entering the Sisters of Saint Francis in 1954, making vows in 1956.
Sister Dorothy's 41 years of ministry as a Franciscan sister began as a teacher: two years at Saint Augustine's School in Austin, and one year at Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, Ohio. Sister Dorothy had various positions at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester: business coordinator (1959-1971), office manager of systems and procedures (1971-1973) and assistant to the director of finance (1975-1978). In 1973, she pursued studies at the University of New Mexico, where she received a master's in business administration in 1975.
Sister Dorothy received a license in nursing home administration in 1980 and served as administrator at Saint Anne Hospice in Winona from 1980 to 1987. Her years of ministry also included business office coordinator for the Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., and secretary/vice principal at St. Mary-Basha Catholic School in Chandler, Ariz.
In 1990, Sister Dorothy moved to Assisi Heights, where she served as secretary to the business office until her retirement in 1997. She has been described as a faithful and good friend who always lived the Franciscan values and gave willingly of her time for others.
Sister Dorothy is survived by a brother, Donald Verkuilen of Myrtle Beach, S. C.; and several nieces. She will long be remembered by the Sisters of Saint Francis, with whom she shared life for 55 years.
Friends may call at Assisi Heights for the vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and before the time of the service on Friday.
Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis of Rochester, office of benefactor relations at Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. N.E., Suite 100, Rochester.
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1922 - 2009 (87 years)
Education - High School
