Obit: Hebert, Sister Betty (1941 – 2018)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hebert, Hennes, Kosier, Peterson, Weis, Borchardt

Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 22 Jan 2018

Hebert, Sister Betty (24 JAN 1941 – 17 JAN 2018)

La Crosse - Sister Betty Hebert, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, one week short of her 77th birthday, died on Jan. 17, 2018, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was in the fifty-seventh year of her religious profession.

Elizabeth (Betty) was born on Jan. 24, 1941, the fourth of ten children to Francis and Rita Elizabeth (Hennes) Hebert in Unity, Wisconsin. She was baptized two days later because she had difficulty breathing and she had surgery to remove a growth on her lung. The family moved often during her childhood. Betty enjoyed the outdoors and was often driving the tractor, feeding the animals, sewing, and making bread. As her father said, "You can do anything if you put your mind to it." Betty attended Unity School for Grades 1-6, then St. Mary's School, Colby, for seventh and eighth grade. After a year of high school, she followed the call to religious life, entering St. Rose Convent on Aug. 26, 1956.

Betty was received into the novitiate on Aug. 12, 1959, and was given the name Sister Theolinda. (She later returned to her baptismal name.) She pronounced first vows on Aug. 12, 1961, and final vows on Aug. 9, 1966.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Viterbo College (University), with a double minor in biology and chemistry. Entering the healthcare profession, she served for 14 years as a medical technician at St. Francis Hospital (MCHS-FH) in La Crosse, three years at Sacred Heart Hospital, Idaho Falls, three years in Irvine, Kentucky and three years at St. Joseph Hospital in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. In 1982, Sister Betty was diagnosed with lymphoma. Despite continuing health issues, she began and successfully completed the occupational therapy program at St. Catherine's College, St. Paul. She ministered in the field of occupational therapy and home health care for another 14 years in hospitals and facilities in Tucson, Santa Fe, and Yakima, Washington. Due to failing health, she retired in 2002, continuing to volunteer at the bloodmobile and St. Clare Health Mission in La Crosse. She moved to St. Rose Convent in 2008 and then to Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse in 2010.

Community members, family and friends remember Sister Betty as an adventuresome person who loved nature, a creative and patient person with a deep faith and trust in God. She enjoyed helping others and encouraging them to be the best they could be. She did home health on weekends and learned Biomagnetic Touch Healing and incorporated that with her occupational therapy. When her sister Virginia (Ginny) became critically ill, Sister Betty came back to the Midwest and helped to care for her until her death. At that time, she came to the decision that her health would no longer allow her to hold a full-time job. She volunteered at St. Clare Health Mission where she could help the poor. She sat with people who were dying. She spent her life joyfully giving to and serving others.

Sister Betty is survived by her Franciscan Community; three brothers: Gerald Hebert, Neshkoro, Wisconsin, Joseph (Pauline) Hebert, Marshfield, Wisconsin, and Daniel (Nancy) Hebert, Arizona City; two sisters: Carol Kosier, Colby, Wisconsin, and Rosaline (Duane) Peterson, Neillsville, Wisconsin and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers: Richard and Francis and two sisters: Antonette Weis and Virginia Borchardt.

A prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel that evening. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes is assisting with arrangements.

Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601-4728.

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE