Sister Mary Joseph Weigand, 91, a Dominican Sister of Springfield, died August 15, 2015. She was given the name Helena Marie by her parents Arthur and Clara Duncheon Weigand. Born in Beardstown, Ill., she joined the Springfield Dominicans in 1949.
Sister Mary Joseph was a math educator and a pioneer teacher or principal at three Illinois schools. Her first mission was the newly established St. Bernadette Parish School in Evergreen Park. In 1958 she taught math at the new Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. Then in 1962 she became the founding principal of Rosary High School in Aurora. She alternated her service at Rosary and Marian over a span of 45 years, serving as principal at Rosary 1962-1970, then at Marian 1970-1980. She returned as assistant principal at Rosary 1980-2003. She also taught at St. John High School, Carrollton; St. Paul, Odell; and Sacred Heart Academy, now Sacred Heart-Griffin, Springfield.
Sister Mary Joseph was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Mary. She is survived by several cousins.
Visitation is at Sacred Heart Convent: 3:30-6:15 p.m., Tues., Aug. 18, with the wake service at 4:30 p.m. and the funeral Mass at 6:30 p.m. in the convent chapel, Rev. Peter Witchousky, OP, presiding. Commendation and burial from Sacred Heart Convent, 10:30 a.m. Wed., Aug. 19, to Calvary Cemetery.
Please visit Sister Mary Joseph’s online life-story to offer your condolences.
