Sister Augusta Sperl, OSF died on Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 4:22 p.m. at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, IL.

Sister Augusta, the former Bernadine Elizabeth Sperl, was born in Springfield, IL, on March 8, 1923, the daughter of August and Elizabeth (Beckman) Sperl. She entered the Congregation on September 8, 1939 and professed her religious vows on October 4, 1942.

Sister Augusta graduated from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in Springfield, IL in 1945. In her professional life, Sister served as a nurse, medical records librarian, administrator, pastoral care director and volunteer at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin. Specifically, she served as Administrator and Superior of St. Nicholas Hospital (Sheboygan, WI) from 1969-1976 and as Director of Pastoral Care, and later as a volunteer, at Sacred Heart Hospital (Eau Claire, WI) from 1977-2005. Sister Augusta retired from active duty in 2005 and returned to the Motherhouse in Springfield, IL.

In addition to her parents and step mother, Marcella Sperl, she was preceded in death by a brother, Father August Sperl, and a sister, Lucille Kuchar. She is also preceded in death by two half-brothers: James and Robert Sperl and a half-sister, Patricia Ratterree.

She is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for over 80 years.

Private services will be held on Monday, April 6, 2020. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

To read her feature story from 2010, please click here.

Staab Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Out of an abundance of caution concerning the Corona virus (COVID-19), the Chiara Center, St. Francis of Assisi Church, and St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel will be closed to visitors from March 16 through April 30. Our plan is to revisit to revisit the status of the pandemic by April 27.

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Sister M. Elvon Huser, O.S.F. died on Monday, January 6, 2020 at 3:50 p.m. at St. Francis Convent, Springfield, IL.

Sister Elvon, the former Marie Cecilia Huser, was born in Hanson, WI, on March 20, 1919, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Wirtz) Huser. She entered the Congregation on October 1, 1936 and professed her religious vows on June 13, 1939.

Sister Elvon graduated from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing, Springfield, in 1942. In 1944, she graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She completed Post Graduate Studies in Surgery at St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, in 1945. In her long life of ministries, Sister Elvon served as a surgical nurse, OR Supervisor, and Director of Pastoral Care. She continued in her pastoral care ministry until her retirement and then volunteered at HSHS hospitals in Illinois and Wisconsin.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by seven brothers: Louis, Joseph, Jerome, Herman, Victor, Charles, and Edmund; and four sisters: Hospital Sisters' Sister M. Elaine Huser, O.S.F., Sister M. Nerine Huser, S.S.N.D., Sister M. Petranda Huser, S.S.N.D., and Gertrude Pleyte.

She is survived by two sisters: Hospital Sisters' Sister M. Elreda Huser, O.S.F., Springfield, and Betty Bymers of Wisconsin Rapids, WI; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, as well as her Franciscan Sisters with whom she shared her life for over 83 years.

Visitation will be held at St. Francis Convent from 4:30-7 p.m. with a Wake Service at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2020. The Eucharistic Celebration and Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Dennis Koopman, OFM, on Friday, January 10, 2020, at 10 a.m. in St. Clare of Assisi Adoration Chapel at St. Francis Convent. Burial will be in Crucifixion Hill Cemetery. Staab Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To view her feature story from 2006, please click here.