PHELAN, Sister Cortona

PHELAN, MCCLINTOCK

Posted By: Susan Hass Kieso (email)
Date: 5/19/2002 at 02:26:19

Clinton Herald May 16, 2002
Phelan Funeral Is Set
Clinton--Sister Cortona Phelan OSF, 92, of Clinton,died Wednesday at the Alverno Care Facility in Clinton. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. at The Canticle Chapel. Bishop William E. Franklin will be officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8p.m. today at The Canticle on the third floor. There will be a rosary service at 4 p.m. A Scripture service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Burial will be at St. Iranaeus Cemetery in Clinton. The Lemke Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
Sister Cortona was born on July 14, 1909, in West Brooklyn, Ill. to James A. and Ellen (McClintock) Phelan.
She attended elementary school at St. Thomas Aquinas in Milwaukee, Wis., and St. Mary's in West Brooklyn, Ill. She attended West Brooklyn High School and Amboy High School in Amboy, Ill. She graduated from Mount St. Clare Academy in Clinton. She received an A.A. from Mount St. Clare College, a Ph.B.degree from DePaul University in Chicago, Ill., a M.A.degree from The University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in history from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She also attended St. Louis University in Missouri. She joined The Sisters of St. Francis on June 1, 1927. She took her final vows on April 17, 1933.
She spent most of her 60 years of active ministry at Mount St. Clare Colege as a teacher and administrator of the academy and college. She was also President of the Clinton Franciscan Congregation. Before she was appo9inted as Principal/Prefect of Mount St. Clare Academy in 1938, she taught for eight years at St.Francis de Paula in Chicago, Ill. and at St. Ann High School in Vail, Iowa. After serving at the academy for 10 years, she taught at the college for 20 years. She was academic dean from 1948 to 1958. She was president of the college from 1958 until 1968 when she was elected President of The Sisters of St. Francis in 1068 and served in that capacityuntil 1976.
After her term was completed, she accepted an invitation to the St. Margaret Mary Parish in Chino, CA., where she served as director of religious education and Baptismal preparation. In 1985 she transferred to St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Riverside, Claifornia.. She served as pastoral associate and later as an assistant to the principal of the school. She was also involved in many organizations and projects for the diocese of San Bernadino, California.
She served as diocesan educational consultant and taught Church history for the Straling Leadership Institute and the diocesan school of lay ministry formation.
In 1987 Bishop Straling presented her with the Our Lady of Guadalupe Award, which is given to acknowledge those who demonstrate "outstanding service, loyalty and dedication to the diocese and its endeavors."
She returned to Mount St. Clare in 1989 and served for three years as the alumnae secretary. She received the College Founder's Award in 1980 and was inducted into the college hall of fame in 1993. She retired from Mount St. Clare in 1992 and moved to the Alverno Care Facility in 1996.
She was a memeber of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, the American Cathoic Historical Association and the National Education Association. She was an officer of the Franciscan Sisters of Educational Conference. She was an early member of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. In 1972 she was among a group of women religious founders of NETWORK, the National Catholic Social Justice Lobby.
Survivors include, one sister-in-law, Mrs. Mildred (James) Phelan of Dixon, Ill. and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her broher and two sisers.