Sister Mary Rose Meis, CSA, baptized Shirley Ann, died peacefully February 11, 2025, at Nazareth Center, Fond du Lac, WI.
Shirley was born November 15, 1937, in Hays, KS, the oldest of the eight children of Servillian (Bill) and Irene Weigel Meis. The Sisters of St. Agnes were her teachers during her first two years in elementary school and again while attending Girls Catholic High School in Hays, KS. After her high school graduation in 1955, she chose to enter St. Agnes Convent, joined by her younger sister, Mary Agnes, now known as Sister Marise Meis, CSA. Shirley made her first profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes as Sister Mary Rose on August 15, 1958, in Fond du Lac, WI.
Sister Mary Rose was a generous and devoted woman of service, ever present and responsive to those in need. She spent her life as an educator and serving in leadership roles for her CSA community. She earned her BS in Education in 1962 from Marian College, Fond du Lac, WI, and her MA in Elementary Administration in 1974 from Loras College, Dubuque, IA. She enhanced these degrees with ongoing educational and theological courses throughout her years in ministry.
Sister was an elementary school teacher and principal in parish schools in WI and IN from 1959 to 1986. She took a pause from her educational ministry in 1986 to serve as a Regional Coordinator for her CSA community, supporting the personal, professional, communal, and spiritual needs of her sisters. Upon the completion of her term in 1990, Sister Mary Rose accepted the position as principal of St. Mary’s School in Jackson, MS, serving the needs of the African American children and their families for eight years.
After a year of sabbatical in 1999, Sister Mary Rose accepted roles of service for her community: Local Coordinator at Nazareth Court and Center, the CSA retirement center (2000-2009); CSA Motherhouse Administrator (2010-2019).
Sister retired from these congregational responsibilities in 2019. She remained a familiar face in the local Fond du Lac community attending many justice and peace events. She was a key person in the Clean Your Closet for Cantera sales that raised funds for the ministry of the sisters in Nicaragua. Sister Mary Rose spent countless hours volunteering with Stone Soup, Ebony Vision, United for Diversity, the Senior Center, the Fond du Lac Center for Spirituality and Healing, Agnesian HealthCare Grief Relief, ASTOP, the Simple Blessings Gift Store operated by St. Francis Home and CSA sponsored activities. She was a faithful supporter of Marian University assisting with many of their special events. She also truly enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society. Her struggle with dementia and subsequent declining health led her to become a resident at Nazareth Court and Center in February 2024. There she received loving care until the time of her death.
Preceding Sister Mary Rose in death were her parents and her sisters, Yvonne Rodriguez, and Geraldine Henning.
Sister is survived by her sisters, Sister Marise Meis, CSA, Katherine (Jeff) Plank, Christine Hadley; her brothers, Father Peter Meis, OFM Cap., Michael Meis; her brother-in-law, Richard Henning; her nieces and nephews and their families, and the Sisters of St. Agnes with whom she lived, prayed, and ministered.
All services for Sister Mary Rose will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. —11:00 a.m. and 12:00 —1:30 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, WI.
A Prayer Service in honor of Sister Mary Rose will be held at 11:00 a.m. in Nazareth Center Chapel, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, WI.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered at 2:00 p.m. in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, WI, with Father Carl Diederichs presiding.
Burial will follow in St. Joseph Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, WI.
Memorials may be directed to the CSA Mission Advancement Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.
The Sisters of St. Agnes and the Meis family are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and Hospice Hope for their devoted care of Sister Mary Rose.
Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.