Sister Alice Lechnir
(Mary Henrianne)
Born to earthly life: July 1, 1924
Religious profession: August 11, 1946
Entered eternal life: March 27, 2009
Sister Alice Lechnir, born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on July 1, 1924, was the fourth child in a family of two boys and four girls. Her younger sister, Catherine, became her inseparable companion. One of their favorite pastimes, playing school, included pretending to be sisters. Aprons worn over their heads and hanging down their backs served as veils as they taught their classes.
Alice attended public school during kindergarten, first, and second grades, then transferred to St. John's for grades three through eight. When Alice made her First Communion on May 28, 1933, she already felt the desire to be a sister. However, during her four years in the public high school she decided that the idea of entering the convent had just been the result of daily contact with Sisters.
After graduation in 1942, she went to Milwaukee, where she lived with her aunt, uncle, and cousin Anita who was just three years older. She worked in a small defense plant as an inspector, but after five months transferred to the Bruce Publishing Company. After just two weeks there, she was promoted to the position of secretary to one of the salesmen, Mr. O'Brien. She credits her boss for having rekindled her desire to dedicate herself to God by just one portentous sentence.
So, on September 6, 1943, Alice entered the candidature of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. When Alice was given the name Sister Henrianne at reception on August 10, 1945, her parents, Henry and Anna, were very pleased.
After profession on August 11, 1946, her first assignment was teacher of intermediate grades at Christ King. However, after ten days she was summoned to the motherhouse, trunk and all. She was to report to St. Anthony, Detroit, as a teacher in the commerce department. She arrived on Saturday, saw her classroom on Sunday, and met her first students on Monday.
Her high school teaching career included schools in Detroit, Chicago, Chippewa Falls, Escanaba, and Oshkosh. In addition to teaching business subjects, she branched out into English, speech, and drama. At Lourdes, Oshkosh, she also served as principal.
In 1981 Sister Alice went to Hope Community in Little Falls, Minnesota, for personal renewal, and then joined the staff of Wholistic Growth Resources there for several years. After that she served as director of residence at Mount Mary College beginning in 1987. In 1992 she became the archivist and telephone receptionist at the motherhouse. She officially retired from directing the Notre Dame prayer auxiliary and the “circle of prayer” at Elm Grove in 1997. She continued to be an involved member of the community until the end of her life.
– Sister Marie Grellinger
Sister Alice received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a major in secretarial science and minor in business administration. She earned her Master of Arts in English at De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois.
Sister Alice served as teacher and principal. In later years, she worked in spiritual renewal and served as archivist at the SSND Motherhouse. She retired to Notre Dame of Elm Grove in 1997 where she ministered in volunteer service and by her prayers and presence.
Sister Alice's ministry locations were:
- St. Anthony, Detroit, Michigan, 1946-1951
- St. Alphonsus, Chicago, Illinois, 1951-1956
- McDonell Memorial High School, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 1956-1967
- Holy Name High School, Escanaba, Michigan, 1967-1971
- Lourdes High School, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 1972-1981
- Hope Community, Little Falls, Wisconsin, 1981-1983
- Wholistic Growth Resources, Little Falls, Wisconsin, 1983-1987
- Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1987-1992
- Motherhouse, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1992-1997
- Retired, Notre Dame of Elm Grove, Elm Grove, Wisconsin, 1997-Present
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