Cecile Rouse was born on November 18, 1923, the youngest of nine children born to Albert and Adeline (Piche) Rouse, in Nadeau, Michigan, Diocese of Marquette.

Cecile grew up on a farm in Nadeau, Michigan and received her elementary education in public schools. 

She knew at a young age that she wanted to be a sister.  She was 10 years old when her older sister joined the Dominican Order in Grand Rapids, MI.  In her oral history she says, “Already then I thought, I am going to be a sister too.”  The Salvatorian Sisters came to Nadeau in summer to teach vacation school. When Cecile met the Salvatorian Sisters she stated, “I admired them, I was fascinated by them.”  Sister Fortunate Spörlein who came to teach summer school encouraged her to enter the convent after finishing the 8^th grade.  At the end of the summer classes she went with the sisters when they returned to Milwaukee. 

On August 19, 1936, Cecile, at the age of 13, entered the Congregation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She received her high school education at Divine Savior Convent High School.  On August 12, 1939, she entered the novitiate, receiving the religious name Mary Paul.  She professed her first vows on August 13, 1940 and final vows on August 13, 1946 in Milwaukee, WI. 

Sister Mary received her BA in French in 1952 from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI.  She attended Catholic University of America in Washington DC, graduating in 1958 with an MA in Theology.  In 1974 she completed 4 quarters of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee.

In 1941, Sister Mary began her ministry as a teacher at Mother of Good Counsel in Milwaukee, WI.  After a brief period as a teacher, she ministered within the Salvatorian Community as Prefect of Postulants followed by 12 years as Directress of Novices.  From 1965-1969, Mary served as Provincial Councillor.

After completing this ministry in provincial leadership, Sister Mary worked in parish settings as a member of the pastoral team in Fraser, MI and Apple Valley, MN.  After her CPE training in 1974, Sister Mary became a member of St. Benedict’s Jail & Court Team, visiting women in the county jail, giving them counsel and support and serving as an advocate for them in the courts.  Next she used her pastoral care gifts at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and in St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

In 1978, Sister Mary was elected to serve as Provincial and held this position for the next six years.  As Provincial, she loved being there for each sister and stated that she “really wanted the best for each Sister, the Province and the Congregation.”  After completing her terms of office, she took time for a sabbatical at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA, earning a Certificate in Theological Studies.

In 1989, she studied to be a spiritual director and did her Internship Program at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Milford, Ohio.  For a time, spiritual direction was her full-time ministry.  When the province purchased St. Anne’s Home for the Elderly, Sister Mary, knowing her gifts in pastoral care, chose to become the first Director of Pastoral Care for our new institution.  While at St. Anne’s, she also promoted our mission among the employees.  When it became evident that her brother Paul needed some assistance with the care of his ill wife, Sister Mary transferred to Portage, WI.  There she was not far from her brother’s home and could assist him as caregiver.  During this time she also did pastoral care part-time at Divine Savior Hospital and Nursing Home.

In 2001, she was invited to move back to Milwaukee to join the community at the newly established Salvatorian Sisters Residence.  Here Sister Mary had the opportunity to share her pastoral care gifts again with the many Sisters we had in St. Anne’s Nursing Home at that time.

When she returned to Milwaukee there were already signs that Sister Mary was in the very beginning stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.  As her disease advanced, Sister Mary entered St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus Nursing Home in August of 2006.  Toward the end, Sister Mary’s physical condition became worse, hospice care was provided and everything was done to keep her comfortable.  On July 1^st, she was anointed during a prayer service with a large group of Sisters and some lay staff joining in the prayers and songs.  Sisters kept vigil during the next 36 hours and just before 8:00pm on July 2^nd, Sister Mary breathed her last and gave over her loving spirit to God.  She was born into eternal life at the age of 84 and professed for 67 years.  May her joy be full as she lives in the presence of her God.

Sister Mary is remembered for her contemplative spirit and listening heart, her love of reading and acquiring new knowledge.  In her oral history she states, “I think my biggest gift is to be with the sick and the hurting, to be with them and walk with them into life and the hereafter…be with families who are suffering.” In her closing statement, she said, “I believe that my being a Salvatorian Sister has truly been a call from God—that this is where God wanted me to be, and I am deeply grateful.”

She will be missed by everyone, especially by those sisters whose lives were touched by her as novices.  She will be greatly missed by Sister Patricia Kieler and Kathleen McNally who were faithful caregivers every day after Sister Mary entered the nursing home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Adeline Rouse; her brothers, Earl (Julia) Rouse, Raymond (Anna) Rouse, Frederick (Margaret) Rouse, Paul (Jeanette) Rouse; her sisters, Marian (Lester) LaHoy, Betty (Bud) Ritter, Sister Marie Therese, OP and a brother-in-law, Ernie Poulin.

She is survived by her Salvatorian Sisters and the entire Salvatorian Family, a sister, Marie Poulin, and many nieces and nephews including her nephew Al and his wife Bernie Rouse of De Forest, WI. 

The Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 8, 2008 at St. Anne’s Salvatorian Campus, Milwaukee, Wisconsin with visitation beginning at 4:15 pm.  Burial at 9:30am on Wednesday, July 9, will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, 7300 West Nash, Milwaukee, WI.