Eight retired American nuns living at a retirement home for sisters have died from COVID-19 complications within one week, including four who passed away on the same day, according to Notre Dame of Elk Grove Convent.
Sisters Rose Feess, 91, and Mary Elva Wiesner, 94, were the first to die at the Convent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 9, MetroUK reports.
Sister Dorothy MacIntyre, 88, then died on December 11 white Sister Mary Alexius Portz, 96, passed away on Sunday.
Then, on Monday December 14, Sisters Cynthia Borman, Joan Emily Kaul, Lillia Langreck and Michael Marie Laux all does from the disease.
Following the tragic deaths, Notre Dame of Elk Grove leader, Sister Debra Marie Sciano said;
Even though they’re older and most of the sisters that did go to God are in their late 80s, 90s…we didn’t expect them to go so, so quickly. So it was just very difficult for us.
The convent, which is home to around 100 nuns, was totally free of coronavirus throughout the outbreak when the virus first hit US shores in January, before spreading rapidly throughout March.
However, one of the sisters who resides in the convent tested positive at the end of November.
As at the time of filing this report, School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province said other sisters who live at Notre Dame of Elm Grove have also been diagnosed with COVID-19, but the international congregation of women declined to provide additional details, citing the residents’ privacy.
The School stated;
All CDC guidelines are being followed regarding the care of sisters affected by COVID-19 and to avoid spread of the virus, including wearing masks, social distancing and hand-washing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the sisters, their caregivers and families. We invite you to join us in prayer for all those affected by the pandemic.
Those nuns who lost their lives will have their funerals broadcast via video link.
It is unclear whether the convent is on a priority list for Covid vaccines, although Sciano said her team are now pushing for the remaining nuns to receive the shot as quickly as possible.
The eight deaths at Notre Dame of Elk Grove comes after similar homes for the ageing religious had reported multiple deaths from the coronavirus.
Back in July, 13 nuns died at a convent near Detroit and seven died at a center for Maryknoll sisters in New York.
Also, at least six nuns also died at Our Lady of the Angels convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin, a home that provides dementia care for nuns of the School Sisters of St. Francis and the School Sisters of Notre Dame.
May their souls rest in peace.
Via MetroUK.
