Sister M. Loyola's Services
Visitors are welcome; masks required. COVID screening, contact tracing protocol observed.
Visitation: 4:00-5:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 2021, Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Visitation begins with a prayer service. Directions
Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., July 15; Sacred Heart Convent Chapel.
Link for funeral mass livestream
Burial: 10 a.m., Friday, July 16, Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery Directions
Livestreamed on Facebook
A notice for our friends
Until further notice, visitors to Sacred Heart Convent will be required to complete a contact information form, answer screening questions, and have their temperature taken. Forms are available at the convent.
You may choose to print and complete this form and bring it with you when you come for a sister's funeral. Doing so will streamline the process of welcoming guests when we are hosting larger crowds.
Thank you for helping us comply with OSHA COVID-19 regulations and keep our sisters and coworkers safe.
Springfield Dominican Sister M. Loyola Miller, OP, died peacefully Sunday, July 11 at Sacred Heart Convent. She was born in Morris, Ill., in 1946 to Raymond and Salena (Hanley) Miller, who named her Nancy Carol. She joined the Dominicans in 1964 and professed her vows in 1966 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield, Ill.
Sister M. Loyola was a life-long educator. At every stage of her ministerial life she cared for the growth and faith formation of young people. For eight years she taught elementary students at schools in Springfield and Aurora, and in San Diego, Calif. She taught religion and science for nine years at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, then at Routt High School, Jacksonville. She later returned to Jacksonville as DRE at the parish and part time high school teacher. At Rosary High School, Aurora, she taught for seven years then worked in the finance office for six. When she returned to Springfield in 2009 it was to serve as treasurer at Sacred Heart Convent and offer support for the vocation office, performing both duties with selfless care and joy even as her health declined.
Sister M. Loyola was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her siblings: Anne Foster (Roger, decd), Kinsman; Marilyn (Raymond) Zeimet, Seneca, S.C.; Madonna Updike (David, decd), Ottawa; Eileen Scott, Morris; George (Sherry, decd) Miller, Morris; Lee (Laurie) Miller, Verona; and Sharon (Tom) Kimes, Morris; many loving nephews, nieces, cousins and dear friends.
Visitors are welcome; masks required; COVID screening protocol observed. Visitation: 4:00-5:00 p.m., Thursday, July 15, 2021, Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Visitation begins with a prayer service. Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m., July 15; Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Father Michael DeTemple, OP, celebrant. Burial: Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 10 a.m., Friday, July 16.
Memorials to honor the memory of Sister M. Loyola may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704. The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister M. Loyola are served by Butler Funeral Homes.
She made chemistry fun and interesting before STEAM was even a thing. Sure she taught us the periodic table, but I also remember making ice cream in a coffee can!
Sister Loyola, please pray for us. May your soul live in God’s eternal light.
Sr. Loyola you were a “rock” . You touched many and impacted our lives. Rest in peace.
Loyola, my dear friend!! The memories you created in your work with youth in this diocese are many and cherished!! I know that the TEC community owes you a deep debt of gratitude for all the ministry of presence you gave us. May the choirs of angels come to greet you and speed you to paradise!! Love and hugs!!!
Dearest Loyola, My heart holds the memory of the twinkle in your eye and your welcoming smile. Your passion and compassion
set the world you touched on fire. I will miss you as I celebrate the gift you continue to be as you enter the fulness of the Light you preached from the pulpit of your life.
Sr Loyola , Remember so well living at the Jacksonville Convent with you. I also remember with JOY how you inspired me to get my husband’s annulment in place. Mary Undoer of the Knots !!!!was so faithfulto us. I know your prayers were a part of that journey. May you sing before the Throne tonight !! Maureen
Sr. Loyola,
We will miss your welcoming smile and engaging spirit. Thank you so much for being that first Dominican Sister our daughter Kelly ever met . We will always treasure those Sequence games and just visiting with you at Sacred Heart Convent. We know you will be smiling down as Sr. Kelly makes her perpetual profession of vows in August. We are so grateful for having made your friendship ❤️ Cindy, Kevin and Jay Moline
Sr. Loyola was a beautiful person, inside and out. I met her and had the pleasure of volunteering with her at Mission Outreach. She was very joyful and always smiling. She shared with me that she had blessed, I believe it was, her niece’s new house and left Mission Outreach just beaming. She was fun to volunteer with. I am so sorry to hear she has passed (on my birthday too). She is now watching over us, smiling down on us, and I’m sure doing some precious work for our Heavenly Father. Sr. Loyola, I am so honored to have met you and be in your company. You will be greatly missed. I’ll see you one day at Heaven’s gate.