Sister Anne Krause (formerly Sister Marie Robert)

The death of Sister Ann Krause on Easter Sunday about dawn followed her own Triduum, marked by a severe fall on Holy Thursday and three days in the hospital. Hearing of her death, I’m sure I was not the only one who thought of Mary Magdalene running to the tomb, finally embracing Jesus. After 94 years, Anne could say as she did, “I have seen the Lord!” However, knowing Anne, I think she may have added, “What took you so long,” said Sister Ann Casper in her commentary for Sister Anne Krause, formerly Sister Marie Robert, who died on Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 94 years old and had been a Sister of Providence for 72 years.

Anna Marie Krause was born on April 14, 1923, to Frank and Harriet Baumgartner Krause in Chicago, where she would attend St. Matthew Grade School and Providence High School, graduating in 1940. Anne entered the Sisters of Providence four years later and was given the name Sister Marie Robert. Later, she chose a version of her baptismal name and would be known as Sister Anne. She made profession of first vows and perpetual vows on the same date on January 23, in 1947 and 1952 respectively.

Anne graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and in 1960 from the University of Notre Dame with an MBA in Business Administration.

Her many years in ministry were spent as an elementary and high school teacher and an elementary principal primarily in Indiana and Illinois, with a year in Massachusetts. Switching gears from education, she ministered as finance officer for three years at Providence High School, adding the task of treasurer in St. Joseph Province in 1969, which became a full-time position the following year, a post she had until 1980 when she was given a sabbatical.

During her years as provincial treasurer, she lived in Park Ridge, Ill., with her very good friend, Sister Loretta Schafer. The two of them were as famous for arguing as they were for being friends. A favorite story, recounted by Sister Nancy Nolan who also lived in Parke Ridge, was about a time when Anne and Loretta were arguing on their way to the Woods. The more heated the argument became, the more Anne’s foot bore down on the gas pedal. Before long, a police car pulled alongside, but Anne didn’t even notice! Eventually, the police had to set up somewhat of a roadblock to stop them, no small feat since they were clocked at 95 mph. Needless to say, they were ticketed, but at least they lived to tell the story.

Her driving exploits were also recalled on another occasion. She and Sister Nancy Reynolds were heading to a meeting in an unfamiliar city and got lost. Nancy was driving and keeping her eyes open for a gas station so they could ask for directions. Suddenly, a booming voice directed her to “turn in here!” It was a bank of course … where else would Anne seek help!

Another story from these years was recounted by Sister Alice Ann Rhinesmith, also a provincial treasurer. She related that Sister Anne and she were directed by then-General Treasurer Margaret Kern, to do extensive research to determine whether or not it would be financially feasible for the Congregation to enter Social Security, with retroactive payments. The Congregation could not afford the computer program which would do all the analysis and projections automatically, so Anne and Alice Ann holed up in the college library for days, supplied with their technology – a calculator. After they completed the work, the data was sent to the Sisters of Mercy to run on their computer program. The results indicated that the analysis and projections engineered by Anne and Alice Ann were correct within $1,000. Now we all know “the rest of the story.”

In 1981, Anne was elected General Treasurer and served in that capacity for 10 years. During those years, she was a valued member of the Investment Advisory Committee, where her financial expertise was admired by the lay members and recalled at their recent meeting. Another thing she loved doing in these years was serving on the board of Thralls Station, our nomenclature for our waste disposal plant. While in health care at Lourdes and in Mother Theodore Hall, she continued to serve on the board and even after she resigned her position, she liked to attend the meetings. After serving as General Treasurer, Anne’s financial background and skills were again tapped and she was asked to begin a Planned Giving Program for the Congregation, ministering in the Mission Advancement office for eight years. Resigning that position in 1999, she continued to serve at the motherhouse in various capacities, but primarily as a driver.

Even her prayer ministry in later years remained focused on finance, as she was assigned to pray for successful capital campaigns and for the Mission Advancement office staff.

Anne loved each ministry she pursued and loved the people associated with them. One sister recalled that in Lafayette where Anne ministered she noticed that all the pictures in the house were hung very high! When in Anne’s presence, her height and her commanding presence as “the tall one,” could not be ignored for long!

She never let Sister Danielle live it down that she once took Anne to a restaurant in the dry town of Rockport, Massachusetts, where Anne was forced to accompany her meal with iced tea, rather than her beverage of choice, a Manhattan. On that same occasion, they also ate in the garden area, another circumstance she never let Danielle forget … the restaurant outhouse was in the near vicinity!

Anne’s good friend Sister Rita Clare recalled Anne’s propensity for making broad, bold statements, such as “no one who drives on the Eisenhower has insurance, so stay off of it!” She would often talk in generalizations and on any topic, and had strong opinions, easily shared. As opinionated as she was, however, those who served on the General Council with her knew that she would listen and that she could be convinced of another direction other than her own.

People energized Anne, whether that be her beloved brothers and their spouses and families, when they gathered for holidays or at the lake, or the sisters she visited across the state and the country as provincial and general treasurer. She always had time for people and remained interested in the community and its affairs. When the search for a chief financial officer was recently conducted, Anne lamented to her General Officer liaison Sister Lisa that she was sorry she could not apply – she just felt she would not have the energy to do it!

As we celebrate Anne’s life with this Mass of Christian burial, we know that her family, the Congregation and her many friends – all of whom she deeply loved on Earth – now have a strong advocate in heaven. To be sure, we will commend to her intercession our personal requests, as well as requests for the financial needs of the Congregation. And, hopefully, she will have the energy for that!

Funeral services for Sister Anne took place on Tuesday, April 25, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A Wake took place from 9 to 11 a.m., with Commentary before Mass.

Mass of Christian Burial took place at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 25.

We welcome you to share your memories of Sister Anne in the comment section below.