Sister Kay Elmer

Sister Kay Elmer, age 96, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, died Friday, June 11, 2021 at the Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc. 

The former Catherine Elmer was born November 28, 1924 in Maribel, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Henry A. and Catherine M. (Spurney) Elmer.  She entered the convent in 1952 and professed her vows in 1954 as Sister Vianney Elmer.  Sister Kay earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Holy Family College, Manitowoc and a Master’s Degree from University of North Dakota, North Dakota.  She ministered as a high school teacher at St. Willibrord, Chicago, Illinois; St. Mary, Delaware, Ohio and Holy Name, Escanaba, Michigan. Sister Kay served the Community as the secretary and bookkeeper while at Sacred Heart Seminary, Onieda, Wisconsin.  She then worked as the Student Financial Aid Director at Silver Lake College (Holy Family College) for 21 years, followed by 10 years as the Grant Writer for the college.  Sister Kay provided various services at Holy Family Convent.  Since 2015, she has been a resident of St. Rita Health Center, Manitowoc.

Sister Kay will be well remembered for her kind and gentle spirit, her willingness to always be of service to the Lord and others, her beautiful smile and giggling laugh, and always carrying a camera and a notebook and pencil with her wherever she went.  She loved to read, to listen to “that old time music”, and she especially loved letters, calls, and visits from her family.

Survivors include the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity; her nieces and nephews: James (Mary) Elmer, Green Bay; Francis (Diane) Elmer, Green Bay; Mary (Steve) Krubsack, Kaukauna; Margaret (James) Eckerle, Lawrence; Barbara (Daniel) Braatz, New Franken; Shirley (Butch) Schneider, Maribel; Edward Elmer, Manitowoc; Marcella Elmer-Garcia (Tim) Smith, Skowhegan, MA; Christopher Elmer, Sr., Seattle, WA; Lori (Hans) Mayne, Maui, HI; Teresa (Steven) Wallach, Manitowoc; and Rene Albert Elmer, Austin, TX. She was godmother to her nephew Francis (Diane) Elmer and her great-nephew, Michael (Johanna) Schneider.  She is further survived by great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.  She is also survived by a very special great-niece, Ann Marie (Kyle) Habeck, with whom she was extremely close.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Henry and Catherine (Spurney) Elmer; her siblings and their spouses: Ralph (Evelyn) Christel, Wencel (Aileen) Elmer, Alvin Elmer, Anita (Norbert) Greenwood, John (Ernestine Garcia-Elmer) Elmer; her nephews and niece: Ronald Christel, David Christel, Bruce Greenwood and Katherine Elmer Teeter; and her great-nephew Michael Teeter Richardson.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at Holy Family Covent, Manitowoc. A prayer service and eulogy will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Holy Family Convent Chapel. The visitation will continue Thursday morning, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at the Holy Family Convent Chapel.  Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial will be the Rev. Placid Stroik, O.F.M. Sister Kay will be laid to rest in the Holy Family Convent Cemetery, Manitowoc.

Unvaccinated visitors are asked to please wear a mask in accord with the CDC guidelines.

Memorial contributions may be made to support retired Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, in care of FSCC Retirement Fund, Holy Family Convent, 2409 S. Alverno Road, Manitowoc, WI 54220.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.lakeshorefamilyfuneralhomes.com

The Pfeffer Funeral Home, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

Obituary submitted by her family--Sister Kay, with your unwavering love for us and for our Lord, you left a lasting impression on our hearts and in our lives.  You are deeply loved and will be forever missed.  Please continue to pray for and watch over us from your new Heavenly home.  “Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your master.”-Matthew 25:23

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