Sr. Helen Wolf, OP

Springfield Dominican Sister Helen Wolf, OP, died January 28, 2023, at Sacred Heart Convent, in the 70th year of her religious profession. She was born in 1927 in Odell, IL, to Leo and Laura (nee. Harrawood) Wolf. She was baptized Helen Marie and made her profession of vows as Sister M. Albertus in 1953 at Sacred Heart Convent.

Most of Sister Helen’s years of ministry were given to stewardship of the financial resources of the congregation. She was general treasurer of the congregation for 14 years and later treasurer for the large local community at Sacred Heart Convent for 13 more years. When she left that position, she continued to support the life and mission of her sisters at Sacred Heart Convent as local sub prioress, sacristan, and driver and archivist, giving the same careful attention to each of those responsibilities as she did in her role as treasurer.

Her early years as educator included teaching primary, junior high, and high school students in Hampshire, Chicago, Chicago Heights, and Springfield. Twice she was an administrative assistant at Marian Catholic High School and for a brief time at Sacred Heart Griffin, too. She treasured the years she was able to provide spiritual accompaniment for persons incarcerated at the Jacksonville Correctional Center.

Sister Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Alvin; her brother Robert and wife Carol; her sister Alice Rondelli and husband Bill; her sister Mary Lou Snyder and husband Patrick; and her brother-in-law Jim Sellmyer. She is survived by her sister Doris (Jim) Sellmyer, her sister-in-law Bessie (Alvin) Wolf, many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and her Dominican Sisters.

Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704. Visitation will begin with a prayer service.

Funeral Mass: 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Dominican Father Michael DeTemple, celebrant. Mass will be livestreamed. For livestream information visit https://springfieldop.org/sister-helen-wolf-op/

Burial will be at a later date.

Memorials to honor the memory of Sister Helen may be made to the Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 1237 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL, 62704.

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