Sr. Elaine B Dufresne

DUFRESNE, Sister Elaine (formerly Sister Mary Edward) a Sister of St. Joseph for 74 years, entered eternal life at Mt. St. Mary Convent in Wichita, Kansas on November 10 , 2023 at the age of 93. Sr. Elaine was born on June 15, 1930 in Somerset, Wisconsin to the late Edward Fred Dufresne and Emma Marie Belisle. Sr. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Lee Dufresne, Vern Dufresne, Raymond Dufresne, Norman Dufresne; her sisters Theresa Dufresne Martell and Marcia Dufresne Wager. Sr. Elaine is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Sr. Elaine graduated from St. Anne School in Somerset, Wisconsin on June of 1944 and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 18th, 1948. She professed Final Vows on August 15, 1953. In 1956, Sr. Elaine graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota with a B.A. in Social studies and in 1981 from Seattle University with a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. She was certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 1983 and received certification from the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in 2001. Sr. Elaine’s life of service began at St. Joseph’s Academy in Crookston, Minnesota where she taught Social Studies and Business from 1956 to 1968. From 1970-1978, she served her community as Provincial Coordinator for the Sisters of St. Joseph Crookston Province. After receiving her certification in Pastoral Ministry in 1981, Sr. Elaine served as Pastoral Care Director at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids, Minnesota then as Coordinator of Park Rapids Area Hospice, Outreach at St. Joseph Parish, Moorehead Minnesota. She then moved to Fargo, N. Dakota where she served as Chaplain at St. Luke’s Hospital and Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo, N. Dakota. In 1995 Sr. Elaine moved to Crookston, Minnesota where she served as Director of Pastoral Care at Marywood Sisters of St. Joseph Residence until 1997. Sr. Elaine served as Coordinator of Hospitality and part time vocation Ministry in Woodbury, Minnesota from August of 2000 until October of 2010 when she retired and moved to Mount St. Mary Retirement Center in Wichita, Kansas. She continued to serve as part-time Pastoral Minister until moving to Marian Hall for more care. She continued to be a prayerful presence to Sisters and Residents in Marian Hall until her death. During her many years of ministry, Sr. Elaine received numerous awards including the Women of the Year award given by the YWCA in Fargo, Minnesota.

Homecoming will be at Mt. St. Mary Resurrection Chapel on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. with Wake to follow at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Resurrection followed by Internment will be Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. in Resurrection Chapel beginning at 10:30 a.m. Memorials in her name, may be sent to the Congregation of St. Joseph Retirement Fund, Dear Neighbor Ministries or StepStone at 3700 E. Lincoln, Wichita, KS 67218.