Sister Helen Saffert 1918 - 2002

SAFFERT, REINHART

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/7/2014 at 10:44:22

Sioux City Journal
7 April 2002

Sister Helen Saffert, 83, of Sister of the Living Word, Chicago, Ill., a longtime Sioux City educator, died Friday, April 5, 2002, at Resurrection Life Center in Chicago after suffering with Alzheimer's disease for several years.

Services will be 7 p.m. Monday at St. James Church in Arlington Heights. The wake service will be 5 to 7 p,m, Monday at the church. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Ill.

Sister Helen was born May 20, 1918, in Blue Earth, Minn., the daughter of John and Julia (Reinhart) Saffert. After graduating from high school, she entered the Sisters of Christian Charity on Aug. 13, 1936. She made her first profession in 1939 and began her 50-year career in education as a teacher and administrator.

Her first missions were in Michigan at St. Mary Magdalen in Hazel Park, and St. Elizabeth in Detroit. Then in Illinois at St. Raphael and St. Gregory High School. In 1954, she was assigned to Gehlen High School in Le Mars, Iowa, where she was superior, principal and teacher until 1965 then returned to the Motherhouse in Wilmette to become directress of novices, dean of the college anti teacher. After a one year stint at Heelan High School in Sioux City, she moved to her hometown of New Ulm, Minn., and served as principal of Cathedral High School. After five years in that position, she chose to join the Sisters of the Living Word and served on the Leadership Team for one year. In 1976, she returned to Sioux City and stayed until 1997, where she ministered as principal and assistant principal of St. Boniface Grade School and eventually retired to do volunteer work.

Survivors include a brother, Stanley (Donna) of Burnsville, Minn.; a sister, Roselyn (Lloyd) Haggbloom of Bonita Springs, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews, and members of her religious community.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Leo; and sisters, Edna and Marie.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mission Fund, Sisters of the Living Word, 800 N. Fernandez Ave. B, Arlington Heights, IL 60004¬5316,