Sister John Vianney Rudolph, OP

Springfield Dominican Sister John Vianney Rudolph died October 17, 2024, at Sacred Heart Convent. She was born in 1930 in St. Louis, Mo., to Harry and Alma (nee Dirksen) Rudolph and baptized Mary Jane at St. Louis Cathedral. She made her profession of vows in 1951 at Sacred Heart Convent.

After six  years of ministry in educational settings in Chicago, Springfield, and Arcola, most of Sister John Vianney’s life was given to health care administration. She completed her pharmacy degree in 1959 and ministered for a decade at St. Dominic Hospital, Jackson, Miss., working in the pharmacy and in administration. She also served there 1971-1978 as assistant administrator and 1987-1989 as president. She was a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).

From 1979-1986 she was administrator at St. Mary-Rogers Memorial Hospital, Rogers, Ark., and from 1989-2009 was administrator at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

Sister John Vianney was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister, Carole Ann Rudolph, Springfield, Ill., her beloved cousins, including Dominican Sister Francis Mary Phillip, dear friends, and her Dominican Sisters.

Visitors are welcome; Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 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 Monday, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Robert Kelly, celebrant.

Wake and Mass livestreamed at springfieldop.org/livestream/

Burial 10:00 a.m. Tues., Oct. 22, at Roselawn Memorial Park. Livestreamed on Facebook at @springfieldop.

Memorials to honor the memory of Sister John Vianney may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704.

The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister John Vianney are served by Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Please leave your condolences in the comments below or visit dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/butler.