Valerie Cerletty, the fifth of seven children of Frank and Erma (Strack) Cerletty, was born September 3, 1927 in Milwaukee, WI, Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Although Valerie had two aunts in religious congregations, she chose to enter the Sisters of the Divine Savior at St. Mary’s Convent, Milwaukee, just a few blocks from her home, on February 12, 1941. When she entered the novitiate August 12, 1943, she received the religious name, Miriam. She made her first profession August 13, 1944 and final profession August 13, 1950 in Milwaukee.

Sister Miriam was gifted in both art and music and often recalled how her family spent many an evening singing as a group with her father playing the guitar and her mother the violin. Sister Miriam’s interest in and giftedness for music were encouraged by her attending Alverno College of Music in Milwaukee where she received a Bachelor in Music degree in 1954 with a major in voice and piano and a minor in violin. Her graduate work took her to De Paul University in Chicago, IL where in 1956 she received a Master of Music degree with a major in voice and composition.
Her educational background also included theology, liturgy and Scripture studies at St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI and Regina Mundi, Gregorian University and the Angelicum in Rome, Italy.

In her role as music educator, Sister Miriam gave piano and voice lessons in our schools in St. Paul’s Bloomer, WI and Mother of Good Counsel and Divine Savior High School in Milwaukee and in the formation program at St. Mary’s Convent, Milwaukee, WI. In the latter position she also conducted the choir. Besides these teaching assignments, Sister Miriam served as vocation directress and directress of junior Sisters at St. Mary’s Convent before being called to Rome for special work in 1960.

Sister Miriam held various leadership and formation positions in our Motherhouse, Villa Salvator Mundi, in Rome. From 1967 -1987 she was one of the first religious sisters to serve in the Vatican Congregation for religious in Rome, specifically for religious communities which used the English and German languages. During her years in Rome she was also in charge of the liturgical music for the Motherhouse, especially at the time of the beatification of Mother Mary of the Apostles.
(October 1968).

In 1991, Sister Miriam transferred back to the American province. Here she did some pastoral work in St. Nazianz and engaged in ministry as a spiritual director. Much of her time all through the years was given to research into the writings of Father Francis Jordan and Blessed Mary of the Apostles and providing translations for English speaking countries. She was the author of numerous books and articles on the history and charism of both the Society and the Congregation. Among other works, Sister Miriam was responsible for the first English language of Fr. Jordan Spiritual Diary; an English rendition of the Poems of Mother Mary; and a Letter Dialogue between Fr. Jordan and Mother Mary. She also wrote a biography of Fr. Bonaventure Lüthen entitled Eldest Son.

Sister Miriam was a tireless worker giving her all to whatever ministry she was called, especially in her research and translations of our Founders’ writings and the charism they left to all Salvatorians. At the time of her Golden Jubilee of Profession in 1994 she was quoted in the Green Bay Compass diocesan newspaper: “Working with others, I have found that sometimes God gives people a word of Scripture to live by. Mine is this: ‘I have carried you since the womb…from birth. In your old age I shall still be the same. When your hair is gray, I shall still support you… I, Myself shall carry and save you.’ Isaiah 46. In September, 2009, Sister Miriam celebrated her 65th anniversary of profession. At the reception following the Mass, her family spontaneously broke into song and she along with them. It was a special occasion for her.

The words of Isaiah sustained Sister Miriam as she moved to Salvatorian Sisters Residence (2003) and then to the nursing home on November 1, 2007 at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus. Living in Lourdes Hall in the nursing home these past years, she suffered from dementia, a form of the Cross about which she studied and wrote through the years, in the writings of Fr. Jordan and Blessed Mary.

On February 21, 2011 we received notice that Sister Miriam’s health was declining and vigil-keeping should begin. Sisters took turns being with her. During her last days, Sister Marion Etzel spent time playing her violin for Sister Miriam.

On February 22, 2011 Sister Miriam peacefully breathed her last at the age of 83 and professed for 66 years. May she now find her peace and joy in the presence of our Divine Savior, Father Jordan and Blessed Mary.

Sister Miriam is survived by her siblings Dorothy Perrin, Francis (Louise) Cerletty and Dr. James (Susan) Cerletty. Further survived by nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, dear friend, Joan Richter, the Sisters of the Divine Savior and the entire Salvatorian Family. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Erna (Strack) Cerletty, brothers Ralph & Harvey, a sister, Marie (Albert) Molisky and brother-in-law, Dr. Ward Perrin.

Funeral Arrangements:
St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus
Visitation: Friday, February 25th at 1:45 P.M.
Mass of Christian Burial: 2:30 P.M.
Burial at Holy Cross on Monday, February 28, at 9:30A.M.