Sister Helen's Services
Visitation: Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704.
Visitation begins with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant.
Burial: will be at a later date.
Mass will be livestreamed. For livestream information visit https://springfieldop.org/sister-helen-wolf-op/
Livestream Links
Springfield Dominican Sister Helen Wolf, OP, died January 28, 2023, at Sacred Heart Convent, in the 70th year of her religious profession. She was born in 1927 in Odell, Ill., to Leo and Laura (nee. Harrawood) Wolf. She was baptized Helen Marie and made her profession of vows as Sister M. Albertus in 1953 at Sacred Heart Convent.
Most of Sister Helen’s years of ministry were given to stewardship of the financial resources of the congregation. She was general treasurer of the congregation for 14 years and later treasurer for the large local community at Sacred Heart Convent for 13 more. When she left that position she continued to support the life and mission of her sisters at Sacred Heart Convent as local sub prioress, sacristan, driver and archivist, giving the same careful attention to each of those responsibilities as she did in her role as treasurer.
Her early years as educator included teaching primary, junior high, and high school students in Hampshire, Chicago, Chicago Heights and Springfield. Twice she was an administrative assistant at Marian Catholic High School and for a brief time at Sacred Heart Griffin, too. She treasured the years she was able to provide spiritual accompaniment for persons incarcerated at the Jacksonville Correctional Center.
Sister Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Alvin; her brother Robert and wife Carol; her sister Alice Rondelli and husband Bill; her sister Mary Lou Snyder and husband Patrick; and her brother-in-law Jim Sellmyer. She is survived by her sister Doris (Jim) Sellmyer, her sister-in-law Bessie (Alvin) Wolf, many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and her Dominican Sisters.
Visitors are welcome; masks and social distancing required. Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Visitation will begin with a prayer service.
Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant.
Mass will be livestreamed. For livestream information visit https://springfieldop.org/sister-helen-wolf-op/
Burial will be at a later date.
Memorials to honor the memory of Sister Helen may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704
The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister Helen are served by Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Please leave your condolences in the comments below or visit butlerfuneralhomes.com.
Sister Helen was a loving aunt and a wonderful person. She was very involved in our lives, and we have so many happy memories with her. She was such a good listener and made everyone she spoke with feel very special. We will miss her so much, but are comforted knowing she is in Heaven.
Lori Snyder Hodge
I haven’t been around Sister Helen for many, many years but she was one of the most wonderful persons you could know. To have such strong memories of her after all this time speaks volumes of her effect on others. Prayerful, humorous, caring, warm, & loving. No doubt about it, she is now managing the finances in heaven or organizing things for the Lord. She was such a gifted person and loved so greatly. Carol Ann Neudecker
Sister Helen always had the most wonderful smile, and she was a delight at family gatherings. She was my father’s, John Wolf, First Cousin.
David Wolf
I will remember Sister Helen with much love and gratitude. I kept in touch with her over the past 16 years by phone and letters. I remember her as a young sister teaching me in 7th and 8th grade at Our Lady of Grace school , it was amazing that she had 50 students in her class and everyone listened. I will miss her and she will always be in my prayers.
I remember Sister Albertus from when she taught my younger Sister, Joan, at St. Edward School, Chicago. Also, she always greeted me when I visited Sister Maria at the Motherhouse, and we had lovely conversations. May she rest in peace.
RUTH ANN KELLER PILNEY
Sister Helen was the first cousin of my deceased husband and I remember her from the family reunions in Pontiac, Illinois. Always gracious and accepting, never judgmental, a strong woman who always kept in touch with us through letters and good wishes. Every year at Christmas I hang up the needlepoint peace greeting which she gave us many years ago. A good remembrance and may she have peace with her many family members.
Marcy Bachler Wolf