Sister June Volpe, OP

Sister June was born and raised in Chicago and spent much of her religious life serving in Aurora, Ill., where she taught English as a second language and worked part time as a hospital chaplain. She ministered for two years at San Juan Pablo II school in Lima, Peru, as well. It was after her return to the United States that she found her niche teaching English language learners. She taught in two college level programs in Aurora. She also enjoyed her years teaching primary students, she said. “Teaching the younger students was a time of joy as I experienced their delight as they discovered a new world unfold before them.” She shares fond memories of her summertime experiences participating in retreat work and provide healing massage for the older sisters at the motherhouse.

Sister June began her teaching ministry in the primary grades: Our Saviour School, Jacksonville, Ill., (1962-1964); St. Kevin School, East Alton, (1964-1972); St. Mary, East Moline, Ill., (1972-1976), and St. Dominic School, Quincy, Ill., (1976-1978). It was while teaching at Little Flower School, Springfield, Ill., (1978-1982) that she began spending her summers giving directed retreats and providing spiritual direction. She continued to teach: St. Vincent De Paul, Peoria (1982-1984), and at Holy Angels, Aurora, Ill. (1985-1987) before taking some time to provide care for an aging parent. After two years teaching at St. Joseph School, Bradley, Ill. Sister June made preparation to serve in Peru, where, after language school in Bolivia, she joined our sisters in Lima and provided administrative and social work assistance at San Juan Pablo II School (1991-1993).

When she returned from Peru Sister June began a new phase of her ministry, teaching English language learners in Springfield (1993-1994) and at Waubonsee College and College of DuPage in Aurora (1998-2004.) At various times she was also a teacher and pastoral associate at St. Therese Parish, Aurora (1994-1998) and taught at St. Peter School. She then taught at Immaculate Conception School, Chicago (2005-2009) and then at Holy Family School, Decatur, Ill., (2009-2013). For two years she world in Springfield as a home care provider for seniors (2013-2015) and since then has worked in pastoral care at St. Catherine’s Village, Madison, Miss.

Of her vocation she said “It truly was a call from God that brought me great joy and deepened my respect for others who worked side by side with me as together we lived our vocation with all its demands.”