Three members of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Province, natives of Fort Madison, celebrate jubilees this year: Sister Ruth Saddler (70 years); Sister Harriet Stellern (60 years); and Sister Judy Herold (50 years).
Sr. Saddler professed first vows July 28, 1944. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Webster College in St. Louis and a master’s degree in elementary education from DePaul University in Illinois.
She served as a teacher for 45 years in St. Louis, Robertson and Washington, Mo.; Belleville, DuBois and Teutopolis, Ill.; and Burlington and Fort Madison, Iowa. For four of the 45 years she served as principal while also teaching in DuBois. From 1985-89, she taught at Port Loko Catholic Secondary School in Sierra Leone, Africa. For 17 years, she ministered in community service to the congregation. She serves a ministry of prayer and presence at The Sarah Community in Bridgeton, Mo.
Sr. Stellern professed first vows Aug. 2, 1954. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis and a
master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame. She has served in educational settings for 59 years. She was an elementary teacher in Valley Park, Mo., and served in high schools in St. Louis, Mo.; Belleville and Quincy, Ill.; and Marrero, La. From 1984 to present, she has served at Our Lady of Loretto-Bishop Conaty High School in Los Angeles. Her roles there have been assistant principal, teacher and support staff member.
Sr. Herold professed first vows Aug. 1, 1964. She received her bachelor’s degree in American studies from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis and a master’s degree in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University in Missouri. She served as a teacher for 22 years in Jackson, Mo.; Belleville and Cairo, Ill.; and Lawrence, Neb. She was administrator of religious education in Godfrey, Ill. In 1996 she moved to Iowa where she served as coordinator of adult faith formation for various Catholic parishes in Fort Madison. Since 2007 she has been a pastoral associate for St. Anthony Parish in Davenport.
