Sister M. Lois Joseph (Baniewicz), O. Carm, celebrated her golden jubilee at St. Teresa’s Motherhouse in Germantown, N.Y. Archbishop Timothy Dolan was the main celebrant for the event.
Sr. Baniewicz was born in Chicago in 1943. She attended St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Rock Island, Ill., where she earned her R.N. degree; she received her bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose University in Davenport and a master’s degree from St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia.
Sr. Baniewicz entered the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm on Sept. 7, 1961, in New York. Her first mission after profession was the Kahl Home in Davenport while she attended nursing school.
She has been sent on mission to the Kahl Home four times — 1964-67, ’71-81, ‘91-96 and 2006 to the present. In between she has served in nursing homes in Joliet, Ill.; Trumbell, Conn.; Bronx, N.Y.; and Columbus, Ohio. She also served at the motherhouse as novice director.
Sr. Baniewicz said she loves working with the elderly and living in Davenport. “The people here are wonderful and have been so supportive of our ministry at the Kahl Home. We are looking forward to next year when we will be moving to the new Kahl Home located on 67th Street and Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport.”
