Sister H. Dorothy (Mildred Ann) Townsell, BVM

DUBUQUE, Iowa — A visitation and funeral liturgy for Sister H. Dorothy (Mildred Ann) Townsell is planned for Tuesday, March 29, in the Marian Hall Chapel of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The visitation at 10 a.m. will be followed by a prayer service at 11 a.m. and Mass at 1:30 p.m.

Burial of the cremated remains will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Dubuque.

Sister Dorothy died on March 18, 2016, at Marian Hall. She was 103.

Born in Streator on July 20, 1912, Sister Dorothy was the daughter of William and Clare (Whalen) Townsell. She entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1932, from Sacred Heart Parish in Caney, Kansas, professing first vows on March 19, 1935, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1940.

Sister Dorothy taught at secondary schools in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and Illinois, including Alleman High School in Rock Island from 1958 to 1959. She also served on the staff of Clarke University in Dubuque and Mundelein College in Chicago, and was a microbiologist/research technician in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition, she was involved in companion ministry in Streator.

Preceded in death by her parents; brothers James T., William, Edward and Leo; and sisters Marie Townsell and Irene O’Brien, Sister Dorothy is survived by two sisters, Catherine Voisinet of Pensacola, Florida, and Mildred Willett of Elma, New York, nieces and nephews, and the Sisters of Charity BVM, with whom she shared life for 83 years.

Memorials may be mailed to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003, or made online at bvmcong.org/whatsnew_obits.cfm.