Women across diocese honored at annual Mass
By DIANE SCHLINDWEIN
Managing Editor
On Saturday, June 24 dozens of women from across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois were honored at the annual Our Lady of Good Counsel Women of Distinction Award Celebration. The day included Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, followed by an awards banquet, both hosted by the Springfield Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW).
Every year parishes in our diocese are invited to choose one woman to represent all the outstanding women in their parish, and then at Mass they are acknowledged and receive their award. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki was the main celebrant at the Mass and presented the awards. Concelebrants were Father Allen Kemme, pastor of Little Flower Parish in Springfield and spiritual advisor for the SDCCW, along with a number of parish priests.
The celebration also honored several recent high school graduates with scholarships from the SDCCW. These include Gabrielle DeWerff of St. Louis Parish in Nokomis; Allison Kirts of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Ste. Marie; Shelby Seiler of Holy Cross Parish in Auburn; and Laney Wright of Immaculate Conception Parish in Mattoon. (All these young women were profiled in the June 25 issue of Catholic Times.)
Here are the Our Lady of Good Counsel 2023 Women of Distinction award winners:
Alton Deanery
Mary Bakos, St. Cecilia, Glen Carbon
Angeline Clark-Hellon, St. Jerome, Troy
Karen Daiber, St. Elizabeth, Marine
Kathy Dohnal, St. Mary and St. Mark, Madison
Laurie Horn, St. Mary, Alton
Betty Howard, Holy Angels, Wood River
Rose Krystopa, St. Elizabeth, Granite City
Gertrude Petty, Holy Family, Granite City
Sharon Rexford, Ss. Peter and Paul, Alton
Cheryl Schenhoffer, Mother of Perpetual Help, Maryville
Doreen Whalen, St. Lawrence, Greenville
Maria Wilson, St. Boniface, Edwardsville
Kathleen Wittich, St. Ambrose at St. Ambrose, Godfrey
Linda Zacha, Queen of Peace, Bethalto
Janet Zerr, St. Ambrose at St. Michael, Godfrey
Jerseyville Deanery
Rita Allen, St. Francis Xavier, Jerseyville
Ramona Berry, St. Alphonsus, Brighton
Denise Cadmus, St. Joseph, Benld
Donette Clark, Ss. Simon and Jude, Gillespie
Annette Cole, St. Patrick, Girard
Karen Crabtree, All Saints, White Hall
Juanita Greeling, St. Michael the Archangel, Staunton
Linda Hacker, Sacred Heart, Virden
Rosie, Kiel, Blessed Trinity, St Joseph, Brussels
JoAnn Kirn, Blessed Trinity, St. Mary’s, Brussels
Patricia Kuebrich, St. Mary, Fieldon
JoAnn Marquess, St. Louis, Nokomis
Barbara Marten, Holy Family, Litchfield
Charlene Modla, St. Agnes, Hillsboro
Martha Rawe, St. Michael, Greenfield
Becky Reed, St. John the Evangelist, Carrollton
Edith Reed, St. John the Evangelist, Medora
Kathryn, Stankoven, Ss. Mary and Joseph, Carlinville
Nan Stork, Holy Ghost, Jerseyville
Barbara Thomas, St. John Paul II Parish, Mt. Olive
Mattoon Deanery
Ruth Buchanan, St. Rose of Lima, Montrose
Lucy Campanis, St. Charles Borromeo, Charleston
Ethel Dhom, Our Lady of Lourdes, Oblong
Sue Dickerson, St. Thomas the Apostle, Newton
Barbara, Enlow, St. John the Baptist, Arcola
Carol Evans, Immaculate Conception, Shelbyville
Mary Lou Gier, St. Francis of Assisi, Teutopolis
Eileen Hartrich, St. Elizabeth, Robinson
Sheila Keys, St. Aloysius, North Arm
Mary Klein, Sacred Heart, Effingham
Anna Marie Logsdon, St. Joseph, Ramsey
Pat Sheehan, Immaculate Conception, Mattoon
Karla Slifer, St. Isidore the Farmer, Dieterich
Ann Stock, Mother of Delors, Vandalia
Ann Swingler, Sacred Heart, Lillyville
Karen Todd, St. Mary, Paris
Barbara Vonderheide, Annunciation, Shumway
Teri Wortman, St. Anthony of Padua, Effingham
Cindy Zumbahlen, St. Mary Help of Christians, Effingham (Green Creek)
Quincy Deanery
Bernice Dittmer, St. Edward, Mendon
Lois Fessler, St. Joseph, Quincy
Manuela Kitson, St. Mary, Pittsfield
Susan Kuhl, St. Peter, Quincy
Debbie Maas, St. Brigid, Liberty
Mary Beth McGee, St. Francis Solanus, Quincy
Dorothy Obert, St. Thomas, Camp Point
Alice Rakers, St. Anthony of Padua, Quincy
Marilyn Scott, St. Mark, Winchester
Springfield Deanery
Cindi Allender, Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception, Springfield
Janice Anderson, St. Joseph the Worker, Chatham
Michelle Campbell, St. John Vianney, Sherman
Ann Carr, Holy Family, Decatur
Amanda Closs, Resurrection, Illiopolis
Traute Cox, Ss. James and Patrick, Decatur
Linda Curtis, Our Savior, Jacksonville
Mary Lou DeVera, St. Thomas the Apostle, Decatur
Pam Fahey, Christ the King, Springfield
Marie Ginter, St. Jude, Rochester
Veronica Goebel, Our Lady of the
Holy Spirit, Mt. Zion
Linda Hacker, Holy Cross, Auburn
Barbara Kern, St. Agnes , Springfield
Sister Rose McKeown, ASC, St. Mary, Taylorville
Martha Norville, St. Rita, Kincaid
Mary C. O’Bryen, Church of the
Little Flower, Springfield
Susan Schmillen, St. James, Riverton
Nancy Schrenk, St. Aloysius, Springfield
Nancy Standridge, St. Cabrini, Springfield
Shirley Stewart, St. Peter, Petersburg
Kay Tasset, Holy Family, Athens
Patricia Towner, St. Joseph, Springfield
Dianna Wagner, Our Lady of Lourdes, Decatur