Sister Irene Kleinhanz, CSC
( - March 4, 2009)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving for this Sister of the Holy Cross who died on March 4, 2009.
Sister Irene was a selfless person who always put the comfort and joy of others ahead of her own. Even though she battled her own physical ailments for years she never let that deter her from helping and supporting others. In community she could be called the local " standup comic" because she brought humor and laughter to the lives of those around her.
Praise could be lavished on Sister Irene for the long list of accomplishments that would make up her resume but she was reluctant to take credit, except in a joking way. The fact that she received a Fellowship (one of 240 recipients nationwide) for her studies at Creighton, the Jesuit University in Nebraska, was just one of her amazing accomplishments. This, plus her many years of wonderfully successful teaching, counseling and administration in numerous educational establishments in the West earned her gratitude and respect from co-workers and parents alike.
While carrying the regular burdens of a teacher and administrator she extended herself to also becoming a caregiver for her mother but as her mother's health deteriorated she took on this responsibility fulltime. When her mother died she immediately picked up her role in ministry by sharing her skills and talents in the field of counseling. This spurred her to a greater understanding of the needs of the poor and she extended herself to reach out to this segment of our society in Pacoima, California.
Perhaps we could call the work she did with the poor in Pacoima, her "crowning glory" because she took this ministry so seriously that she devoted herself totally to working with the people who came to M.E.N.D. (Meet Each Need with Dignity) for help. She entered wholeheartedly into this ministry and enlisted the support of anyone and everyone she could, it became her passion and her joy.
Now she can be the bearer of good humor to all who enter heaven. She will be the joyous greeter for all eternity. Sister Irene will now rest from her labors and pain with the peace and joy she deserves.
Funeral arrangements for Sister Irene are as follows: The Mass of Resurrection with the eulogy will be celebrated on Monday, March 9, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto. Since we are honoring Sister Irene's request for a closed casket, there will be no wake service, but a special moment of remembrance will be included in Solemn Vespers on Sunday, March 8, 4:30 p.m. in Church of Our Lady of Loretto.