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Sister Susan Michelle Dubec
Born to earthly life: November 10, 1944
Religious profession: July 30, 1964
Entered eternal life: June 5, 2009

Sister Susan Michelle was born in 1944. She was the middle of three girls of Michael and Hazel Dubec. Athletics, traveling and camping were favorite family activities. After eighth grade at St. Joseph School, Milwaukee, she was delighted to join her new classmates in the SSND aspiranture. College and graduate schools further prepared Susan for her educational and pastoral ministries.

These began with administering and teaching in Wisconsin elementary schools. Pastors and sisters of those 19 years praised the loving Christian spirit that characterized Susan and the schools she directed. Then she realized her dream mission to Alaska.

In Alaska, Susan Michelle worked in several parishes in a pastoral capacity for 10 years – learning a new language and doing without running water with the adaptability of the venturesome pioneer she was. Indoor gardening, knitting, crafts, reading and letter writing kept her busy during the long winters of little daylight. The outdoors invited fishing for the year, chopping ice and storing it for water, and snowmobiling to her various ministry sites where she worked with the native children and adults.

Because of rampant alcoholism and violence in their families, many women and children sought refuge in the sisters’ home where they received personal counseling and instruction in the faith. As absorbing as living in Alaska was, Susan kept in touch with family and friends through personal notes and remembrances. How she treasured her Dad’s visit to Alaska.

Pastoral ministry in Milwaukee and Madison followed her time in Alaska. In 2001 she accepted a call from her sisters to serve as provincial councilor. But chronic illness dogged her so that in 2006 she assumed the ministry of prayer, presence and service at Notre Dame of Elm Grove. There she tended plants and helped the sisters develop their green thumbs, also.

When the new phone system was installed, Susan patiently taught the sisters how to operate their phones. She loved playing cards with them in the evenings. Despite her arthritis, she knitted afghans and made beautiful items like beaded earrings and necklaces for the gift shop. She played the recorder, loved music and writing poetry.

The past three years summoned all her courage as she struggled with painful health problems which finally claimed her life at age 64.

Her relatively short but loving life was beautifully commented upon not only by Sister Joanne Armatowski, her eulogist and classmate but also by numerous friends present for her stirring funeral. It was an invitation to all to seize each day’s opportunities to love as Susan did.

– Mary Catherine Dundon, SSND

Sister Susan Michelle received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education at Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She earned a Master of Arts in school administration at Clark College, Dubuque, Iowa and a Master of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois.

Sister Susan Michelle served as a teacher and principal at various schools until she was called to mission ministry in Alaska as a religious education coordinator and pastoral administrator. Upon her return to Wisconsin, she worked as a pastoral associate and minister to the sick and homebound. Also, she was elected to SSND leadership, serving as a councilor for the Milwaukee Province.

Her ministry locations were:

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