Sister M. Cecilianne Duello

Springfield Dominican Sister M. Cecilianne Duello died on Tues., Feb. 2. 2016. She was born in Alton, Ill., in 1940 and named Mary Ann, the eldest for four children born to Clement and Helen (Mass) Duello. She took the name M. Cecilianne when she made her profession of vows in 1960 at Sacred Heart Convent, Springfield.

For 56 years Sister Cecilianne served the people of God as an elementary school teacher, director of religious education, and pastoral minister. Her longest and most recent ministry assignment was Our Saviour Parish in Jacksonville, Ill., where she directed the religious education program and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, 1995-2015. There she found her way into the hearts of parishioners young and old.

Her first twelve years of religious life were spent in the classroom teaching children at parish schools in Algonquin, Paris, Quincy, Chicago, and East Moline, Ill., and in Duluth, Minn. She completed a B.S. degree in education at Quincy College and earned an M.A. in religious studies at Providence College.

Sister Cecilianne was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Kathleen Groppel. She is survived by her sister Pat McNamara, St. Louis; her brother Ted Duello, Brentwood, Tenn.; and her brother-in-law Russell Groppel, Godfrey, Ill, as well as by seven nephews, two nieces, and many great nieces and nephews.
All services are at Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield. Sister Cecilianne’s family and her Springfield Dominican Sisters will welcome visitors beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, with the wake service 6:30 p.m. followed by refreshments. On Monday Office for the Dead is 9 a.m. followed by the funeral Mass and burial at Resurrection Cl, 10 a.m., Rev. Tom Meyer, celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704.