Obituary of Sr. Louise Marie Skoch, OSF
Sister Louise Marie Skoch passed into eternal life on January 28, 2024, at Ascension Villa Franciscan Place. She was 94 and a member of the Joliet Franciscans for 77 years. Louise was a born teacher. She was a well-known author, lecturer, educator and presenter. Her passion for religious education and parish work as well as her enthusiasm and dynamic personality endeared her to the children, their parents and her colleagues in many venues and in many cities and states.
Sister Louise Marie (Mary Ann) was born to the late Louise (Michalek) and Anthony Skoch in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 28, 1929. She was preceded in death by her brother Anthony (Jean Sikova) Skoch, her sisters, Lillian Louise Skoch (Donald) Kent, Helen Rose Agnes (Skoch) Hanslik, her sister-in-law Helen (Holy) Skoch and her brother-in-law Alfred Arthur. Sister Louise is survived by her brother Joseph Skoch, her sister Margaret (Skoch) Arthur, and her brother-in-law Joseph Hanslik. She will be greatly missed by her many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Sister Louise Marie attended St. Procop Grade School, Thomas Jefferson Junior High and St. Procop High School in Cleveland, Ohio. She earned a BA (1956) at the College of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois, in religion and philosophy and went on to earn a MA (1962) Summa Com Laude in theology at St. Francis. She held a second MA (1970) Summa Com Laude in religious education from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. Her love for learning never ceased and she participated in and presented many workshops, seminars, and conferences around the country. She was a prolific writer and published books and programs on topics of religious education and realistic parenting. She served as consultant for Sharing the Light of Faith, National Catechetical Directory for Catholics of the United States (1975-1979). Sister was an active member of the Religious Education Association of the United States and Canada, Association of Professors and Researchers in Religious Education, National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry and the National Conference of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education.
Sister Louise Marie made her profession on August 12, 1949, the same year she began her teaching ministry. She taught in grade schools throughout Illinois and Ohio for more than 15 years. In 1966 her ministry turned to high school religious education. She taught at St. Francis Academy (1966-1969) Joliet, Illinois, and Cardinal Gibbons High School (1968-1971) Fort Lauderdale, Florida and from (1971-1979) she served as a diocesan consultant at the Office of Religious Education, Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, and (1976 -1985) as the assistant director of that same office. While Sister Louise was in Toledo, serving as Assistant Director of Religious Education, she hosted a weekly television program, All Things New, and arranged to host Mother Teresa of Calcutta on the show. She had the opportunity to greet Mother Teresa once again when Mother Teresa visited Denver, Colorado, in May of 1989.
The next ten years of her ministry in religious education (1985-1994) took Sister Louise Marie to several locations: Archdiocese of Denver Religious Education Department and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Arvada, Colorado, as Director of Religious Education; St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Greensboro, North Carolina and Santa Sophia Parish, Spring Valley, California, as Director of Catechetical Ministry. Then (1995-2005) she taught English as a second language at San Diego Community College District, San Diego, California, and at Poway United School District, El Cajon, California.
Returning to Joliet (2008) she embraced her mission of presence and prayer at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. She was always joyful and promised a prayer to everyone that brightened her day with a visit. She tenderly reached out to sisters, caregivers and friends with her usual warmth and sincere gratitude. Her gracious spirit and warm welcome will be missed by all.
Visitation for Sister Louise Marie Skoch will be held at 10:00 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 404 North Hickory Street, Tuesday, February 6, 2024, followed by the Mass for Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Remembrances and committal will take place at approximately 12:00 noon in the Chapel at Resurrection Cemetery, 200 W. Romeo Rd. Romeoville, IL 60446. All are welcome to attend.
If you would like to make a donation in honor of Sister Louise Marie Skoch or another Joliet Franciscan Sister, please send your memorial to the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL, 60435.
For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com where you may share a memory or leave an online condolence.
