Sister Mary Neil (Rosemarie) Mueller
(Cornelia)
Born to earthly life: April 24, 1917
Religious profession: August 3, 1937
Entered eternal Life: January 27, 2011
School Sister of Notre Dame, Mary Neil Mueller died at Northpoint Medical & Rehabilitation Center, Oshkosh, Wis. on January 27, 2011 at the age of 93.
Sister Mary Neil Mueller, beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Marie Kinderman Mueller, passed peacefully from her earthly life to eternal life on January 27, 2011, at North Point Rehabilitation Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Born on April 24, 1917, in Oshkosh, she was given the name Rosemarie at baptism.
Rosemarie met the School Sisters of Notre Dame during her attendance at St. Vincent's School. According to her autobiography, at ten years of age Rosemarie was not too happy about having a new baby brother. She wanted another sister like Virginia, who was born six years earlier. However, when the sisters in school told her that Jesus was a little boy once, she readily accepted Joseph as her baby brother.
At the end of eighth grade, Rosemarie visited Holy Hill with her grandparents and, while praying the Way of the Cross, she felt the awakening of a religious vocation. After much prayerful reflection, and with the consent of her parents, she entered the SSND Juniorate in Milwaukee in September of 1932. The highlight of that year was the day she received the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Mary's Church in Elm Grove.
In 1933 Rosemarie was accepted into the Candidature, and was sent to teach second graders at St. Boniface School in Milwaukee. In July of 1936 Rosemarie was received as a novice and given the name Sister Mary Cornelia, which was later shortened to Neil.
Sister Neil taught children from grades one through eight in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. During that time she continued to excel in both teaching and learning. In 1947 she received a bachelor's degree in English, history, and biology, and fifteen years later a master's in theology.
In 1976 Sister Neil was assigned to the care of her parents in Oshkosh. After her father passed away and her mother was placed in a nursing home, she stayed in Oshkosh and did much volunteer work. She was influential in improving living conditions at Oshkosh Care where her mother was in residence. She was also involved at Father Carr's Place.
Sister especially enjoyed her time at St. Raphael Parish, where she helped to organize their Religious Education Program and train many teacher catechists. She found pleasure in her hobbies, was an avid reader, and kept "in touch" with the times. She also enjoyed playing cards and working in her flower garden.
Sister Neil will be remembered by family and friends as a very prayerful, fun-loving, and caring person, always ready and willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
– Sister Jane Resop, SSND
Sister Mary Neil received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and minors in history and biology from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wis. and a Master of Arts in theology from St. Xavier College, Chicago, Ill. She ministered in education for over 40 years, primarily with middle school students. Near the end of her teaching career, she taught high school religion. When she left fulltime teaching in 1969, she cared for her parents, taught parish religious education classes and was active with volunteer endeavors in Oshkosh, Wis. In 2007, she retired to the North Point Medical & Rehabilitation Center, Oshkosh, where she served through her prayers and presence.
Sister Mary Neil's ministry locations included:
• St. Michael, Milwaukee, Wis.
• St. Boniface, Milwaukee, Wis.
• St. Augustine, Milwaukee, Wis.
• Our Lady of Lourdes, Rice Lake, Wis.
• St. Anthony, Detroit, Mich.
• St. Francis, Milwaukee, Wis.
• St. Anthony de Padua, Chicago, Ill.
• St. Joseph Orphanage, Green Bay, Wis.
• St. Margaret, Chicago, Ill.
• SS. Peter & Paul, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
• Our Lady of Lourdes, Marinette, Wis.
• St. Aloysius, West Allis, Wis.
• St. Patrick, Chesterton, Ind.
• St. Frances Cabrini, West Bend, Wis.
• Holy Assumption, West Allis, Wis.
• St. Kilian, Campbellsport, Wis.
• Central Catholic High School, Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Baraga High School, Marquette, Mich.
• Good Samaritan Parish, Oshkosh, Wis.
Sister Neil Rosemarie Mueller died at Northpoint Medical & Rehabilitation Center on January 27, 2011, age 93. She was born in Oshkosh on April 24, 1917 daughter of Joe and Mary Kinderman Mueller. Sr. Mueller taught English and Religion classes to First Grade through High School in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. She is survived by her brother, Joe J. (Elaine) Mueller of Oshkosh and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Virginia Mueller.
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