Sr. M. Clarice Kniery, OP

Sister M. Clarice was born in 1933 in Litchfield, IL, to S. Joseph and Anna V. Jordan Kniery, and baptized Rita Rose at Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Litchfield, IL. She joined the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in 1952 and made her first profession of vows in 1956.

Sister Clarice attributed her call to religious life to the faith of her parents and her many relatives who also chose of path of service in the church, including her aunt, Springfield Dominican Sister Monica Marie Jordan, and her cousin, Sister M. Grace Jordan. “Our doors were always open and our table always expandable,” she said of her family home.

Sister Clarice ministered for more than 40 years as an elementary school educator. She taught first grade at St. Edward School in Chicago from 1953-1956, and later would be called to St. Augustine School in Richmond, MI from 1956-1963; Our Lady Queen Peace in Bethalto, IL from 1962-1965, where she was a pioneer; Holy Cross School in Mendota, IL from 1965-1968; St. Joseph School in Bradley, IL from 1968-1969; and St. Charles Borromeo School in Hampshire, IL where she was principal from 1969-1975. She also taught eighth grade at St. Bernadette School in Evergreen Park, IL from 1975-1978, and then served as principal at St. Thomas School in Philo, IL from 1978-1984, and at Holy Angels in Aurora, IL from 1984-1986.

In Springfield, she taught eighth grade at Little Flower School from 1987-1990, before leaving classroom teaching to become director of transitional living at Hesed House, a shelter for the unhoused in Aurora, IL from 1990-1993. She served as campus minister and religious education coordinator at Sister Thea Bowman School in East St. Louis, IL from 1993-1998. After a sabbatical, she provided support services at Marian High School in Chicago Heights, IL from 2000-2003, and then returned to Springfield and provide service for the congregation and for The Springfield Project.

One of eight children, Sister M. Clarice was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Edward (Eileen), Jerome (Dannette), Michael (Barbara), James, and Joseph; and sisters, Margaret T. (Quinn) Swibaker (Donald) and Ann Koch (Charles).

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Loralea (Joseph) Kniery; loving cousins; numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters and friends.

In 2024, Sister Clarice’s family surprised her for her birthday by creating the Kniery-Jordan Memorial Fund for the health care of the elder sisters and the upkeep of the motherhouse facilities.

Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., on Wednesday, February 25, Aquinas Center, Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704.

Mass of Christian Burial: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 25, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Robert Kelly, presiding.

Visitation and Mass livestreamed at springfieldop.org/livestream/

She will be laid to rest at Roselawn Memorial Park at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 26. Those services will livestream on Facebook @springfieldop.

Memorials to honor the memory of Sister M. Clarice may be made to the Kniery-Jordan Family Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704.

The Dominican Sisters and family of Sister M. Clarice are served by Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield.