Sister Dyonne Finn
Born to earthly life: February 17, 1937
Religious profession: July 17, 1957
Entered eternal Life: December 21, 2011
School Sister of Notre Dame, sister, aunt, and friend; Woman of Love, Woman of Prayer, Woman of Life – Sister Dyonne was all of these. She truly shared her gifts and talents within the congregation, those to whom she ministered and her family.
Sister Dyonne was a gifted woman dedicated to God and lived life with joy and enthusiasm. She loved life; expressed great delight in teaching as well as ministering to the elderly and eagerly shared stories as well as her sense of humor.
After her teaching career, Sister Dyonne was privileged to care for her parents. She also cared for Sister Martha Jean Sayklly at Bishop Noa home in Escanaba for several years. Sister Dyonne made a difference in the lives of parishioners, and with those living in her apartment complex, and in the operation of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. When her health began to decline, she chose to come to Elm Grove and was greatly missed by all who knew her.
The opening line of her autobiography was, “Top o’ the Mornin’ to you, Dear Obituary Writer!” May Ann was born February 17, 1937 in Escanaba, Michigan (The oldest of three children). Her only brother, Eddie, died shortly after birth. She and her sister Kathy attended St. Joseph’s School in Escanaba. During this time she learned to love her teachers, the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Sister Melvin had been a great inspiration to May in the primary grades. They remained friends through the years.
May Ann attended the aspiranture at St. Mary’s Academy, Prairie Du Chien. In August of 1955 she entered the candidature at the Milwaukee Motherhouse. She was received June 26, 1956 and given her religious name, Dyonne. She loved working, praying, and playing together in the community. “Serving joyfully with all our might is what we try to do. If the joy here is only a fragment of heaven, what can heaven be like?”
Sister Dyonne’s ministry locations follow. Her first teaching position was at Blessed Sacrament, Morton, Ill., 1958-62. She taught at St. Aloysius, West Allis, 1962-68; Sacred Heart, Calumet, Mich., 1968-70 while also serving as principal; St. Charles, Chippewa Falls, Wis., 1970-72 and was principal at St. Jerome, Oconomowoc, Wis., 1972-78. She was director of curricular service for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, 1978-81. She taught at Holy Family Consolidated, Marinette, Wis., 1981-84; served as director of religious education at All Saints, Gladstone, Mich., 1984-86; and her last teaching position was at Menominee Catholic Central, Menominee, Mich., 1986-87. Sister Dyonne studied clinical pastoral care at St. Luke Hospital, Milwaukee and began her second career. She worked in pastoral care at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton, Wis., 1988-90; Maryhill Manor, Niagra, Wis., 1990-97; in pastoral ministry at Marquette General Home Health, Escanaba, Mich. while also serving as director of religious education, St. Joseph Parish, Perkins, Mich., 1998-99. She was a bereavement coordinator, Marquette General Home Health, Escanaba, Mich., 1999-2008. After retiring in 2008, in addition to serving by her prayers and presence, she did volunteer ministry with the elderly in Escanaba, Mich.
Sister Dyonne looked forward to receiving mail from friends and family especially during her final days at Elm Grove. She planned her own funeral and requested to be buried with her grandmother’s rosary.
A pre-Christmas was celebrated in Sister Dyonne’s final days with the community and her family at Elm Grove. She experienced God being with her and found great joy in that. She was deeply touched each time she received Eucharist. Everything she did or said brought the spirit of Christmas into the lives of those who were with her. As Mass ended in the Notre Dame chapel on December 21, she received her wish of celebrating this Christmas in heaven!
The Word of God moved through her life which was based on trust and loving kindness. She showed by example how to give and receive love. She listened to the Lord and felt his guidance as she responded to challenges with her compassionate heart. By her very being, she served God’s people. Sister Dyonne had a way of living life to the fullest. “I consider a great blessing to have spent my working years contributing to the young and the aging. Their lives have enriched each day of mine.”
– Sister Marie Rose Van Deurzen, SSND
Sister Mary Dyonne Finn, SSND died on December 21, 2011, age 74. Survived by her sister Kathy (Ray) Maanika, nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and the SSND Community. A wake service was celebrated December 23, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at The Holy Family Chapel at Notre Dame of Elm Grove. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the School Sisters of Notre Dame Retirement Fund is appreciated.
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