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Sister Rosemary Rafter, formerly Sister Rose Claire, passed away on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She was 93-years-old and had been a Sister of Providence for 74 years.
Commentary
By Sister Denise Wilkinson, SP
Writing a commentary, a eulogy, resembles creating a portrait of the person whose life we celebrate; but words, not paint, create the portrait.
For me, the real artists of this portrait of Sister Rosemary Rafter are the family, friends, Sisters of Providence with whom I talked, exchanged emails and the several Sisters of Providence who stopped me in a hallway or called to tell me their experience of Rosemary.
In the process of creating this portrait, these words were consistently mentioned: Kind, quiet, gentle, a listener, available for others.
Who shaped these qualities of Sister Rosemary? No doubt the faith and values of her parents – John Rafter and Clara Schleicher Rafter and her seven siblings: John, Joan, Eugene, Jerry, Tom, Sue and Bob. Rosemary came third in the lineup.
Rosemary attended St. Patrick Grade School and High School right here in Terre Haute. The Rafters were a close family. Here’s how Rosemary described her family: “We didn’t have a lot of money, but there was so much love. We grew up helping one another. Mom was always there for us. Dad would come home from work and we’d play ball. In the evenings, we’d sit on the railing of our big front porch and sing and sing and sing.”
Her brother Eugene related this incident as evidence of Rosemary’s kindness. As a 7- or 8-year old, Gene was hospitalized with a broken leg. When Rosemary came to visit him, she brought a gift for him. She gave Gene a nickel. Quite the amount in those days!
Close family ties remained a part of Rosemary’s life. Her niece Joan remembers her Auntie Rosie “as a family person; always there for all of us; an important part of all family celebrations. Auntie Rosie, a dog lover herself, was a great pet sitter.” Joan will certainly miss the “pearls of wisdom” Rosemary so often shared with her.
In February 1951, Rosemary made her way across the Wabash River to enter the Sisters of Providence. It was a memorable journey to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in negative 20-degree weather and nine inches of snow.
Rosemary professed final vows in 1958. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University.
By the time she earned her master’s in education, Rosemary had 17 years of a more practical kind of education under her belt: 17 years teaching in schools in Indiana, New Hampshire and Illinois. During those 17 years, she taught grades first and second, seventh and eighth. For six of those 17 years, Rosemary was both teacher and principal.
Sister Rose Ann Eaton attested to Rosemary’s effectiveness as teacher and principal: “I learned more from her about how to be a good principal in the one year I lived with her than I learned from any of the education classes I ever took.”
In 1974, Rosemary was appointed to the Sisters of Providence Corporate Renewal Team. The team’s assignment was “to help guide the Congregation’s establishment of a corporate decision-making process for the community.” The effort was named “Cor Unum” – one heart. In a spirit of unity and respect, the sisters learned ways to move from a top down process of decision making to one more inclusive of the thoughts, opinions of all the sisters; then coming together to arrive a communal solution.
From the perspective of many of us sisters, the Council couldn’t have assembled a team more diverse in personalities, spiritualities, life experiences. A sense of “if these six sisters can come together in learning and teaching the basics of corporate decision making, then the rest of us should be able to do it too.” Cor Unum – one heart.
We, the Sisters of Providence, have come a long way in being more adept in corporate decision-making. It’s an ongoing learning – how to be of one heart – if not one mind – as we make decisions at the heart of our lives and ministry. Sister Rosemary and the team built a firm foundation for us – a foundation on which we continue to build.
Sister Rosemary Rafter (right) and Sister Rose Ann Eaton.
An amusing story … the entire Cor Unum team was flying to California to conduct a workshop for Sisters there. They were not flying first class. Yet, Sister Mary Beth Klingel, a team member, recalls that during the flight, they were served champagne – a gift from an anonymous donor – one of Sister Rosemary’s brothers.
Mary Beth expanded on Rosemary’s kindness, gentleness, quietness, a gifted listener in this way: “Rosemary had a very even personality. She was very attentive to people, skilled at drawing them out, at letting them express themselves. That’s what her listening did. She never got in the way of herself.”
The title of Sister Rosemary’s next ministry could well be titled “From the Frying Pan Into the Fire,” or perhaps “Sisters of Providence Take On Redistricting.”
Already structured into four U.S. provinces and the region of Taiwan, the decision was made to create an additional province. The rationale for forming this new province was “to better meet the governmental and other needs of the Sisters.”
The formal, public announcement told of the “appointment of Sister Rosemary as Provincial and Sister Joan Kirkpatrick as Provincial Treasurer of the newly erected Sacred Heart Province. This province will encompass Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and those portions of Vigo and Vermillion Counties in Indiana west of the Wabash River.”
Sister Mary Beth commiserated with Rosemary as she embarked on creating an entirely new province. “Rosemary had no precedent to follow. She had nothing to go on in setting up the governance of this new and very unique province.” Talk abut “feeling your way.” It seems likely that this SP “redistricting” caused as much heated conversations (but not acrimonious conversations) as does our country’s current redistricting plans and outcomes.
Another amusing story. In its article about Rosemary’s installation date as provincial, the Terre Haute Tribune-Star had given the wrong date for the ritual blessing of Sister Rosemary as a provincial. The paper’s Corrections Column clarified the ceremony would take place on Friday, not on Wednesday as previously reported. Problem solved. Not really. With no break to indicate a new topic, the correction further explained: “A large part of the natural diet of the channel catfish is insects and their larvae.” Presumably, Rosemary, among her other duties, was responsible for the wellbeing of the channel catfish on the west side of the Wabash River.
Sister Rosemary Rafter (right) with Sister Lawrence Ann Liston
Sister Kathleen Desautels remembers that it was during Rosemary’s years as provincial the Vu family entered the lives of the Sisters of Providence. The Congregation sponsored this Vietnamese family to make it possible for them to come to the United States.
When the Vu family first arrived, Rosemary had the Sisters prepare the unoccupied Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village Grade School for the family’s home. The parents and each child of the several children had a former classroom converted into a private bedroom. Imagine the sisters’ surprise when they returned the next day after the family’s arrival to check on them. All the mattresses had been moved into one classroom (the parent’s bedroom). The relationship with the Vu family remains a lasting and precious gift of friendship.
After leaving provincial office, Sister Rosemary ministered at Mother Theodore Guerin High School in River Grove, Illinois, and then earned a degree in Student Counseling Psychology from George Williams College in Downers Grove, Illinois. While studying, Rosemary lived in the convent of St. Joseph Parish in Downers Grove. As Providence would have it, that’s how Rosemary became acquainted with the parish, then an active member of the parish community and a dedicated staff member as well.
When she retired from full-time ministry at St. Joseph parish, Rosemary volunteered at Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities Ministry of Care and at St. Thomas Hospice.
Rosemary described her many years as parishioner, staff member, and dedicated volunteer of St. Joe’s parish as among the happiest in her years of ministry.
Jeanette and Joel Beauregard were Rosemary’s next-door neighbors in Downers Grove for 20 years. During that time, Jeanette, Joel and Rosemary became fast friends. The three were dog lovers. They enjoyed time on their neighboring patios. Jeanette admired Rosemary’s many plants and flowers – especially her geraniums. Rosemary introduced them to bird watching as well. Both Joel and Jeanette mentioned they could and did talk with Rosemary about everything and anything.
In their first years of knowing her, they had no idea of Rosemary’s notoriety. They took her to lunch one day. As they sat at their table, more and more people came to the table to greet Rosemary – former students, parishioners, friends made in her volunteer activities. Jeanette and Joel were surprised at this turn of events; but it definitely gave them a feel for how highly well-known and respected Rosemary was. According to Joel, “It was like being with a Hollywood star.”
When asked what words the couple would use to describe Rosemary, they mentioned smart; open-minded; saw things so clearly; extremely patient and gentle; didn’t judge people; stuck up for the underdog. Joel ended the conversation by saying in a clearly frustrated way, “I don’t really have the vocabulary to describe her.”
Maybe none of us has the vocabulary to describe Rosemary. Maybe underneath all the words, we simply know that the presence of this kind, gentle, quiet woman as part of our lives has made a difference.
Perhaps these words of Psalm 16 create the most accurate word portrait of Rosemary – of how she saw herself and how we experienced her.
A reading from Psalm 16
God is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold fast my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
I bless God who gives me counsel; in the night my heart also instructs me. I keep God ever before me. Because God is at my side, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. For you do not give me up to Sheol or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your mighty hand are pleasures for evermore.
Rosemary, thank you for being yourself. Thank you for sharing your glad heart and rejoicing soul, your kindness, quietness and gentleness with all of us. We believe that you are now in that Presence that is the fullness of your joy. Simply said, “Thank you, Rosemary. Thank you.”
Funeral Information
Funeral services for Sister Rosemary will take place on Wednesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 11, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
A Wake will take place from 3:30-4:30 p.m., on Wednesday, December 10, with the Vesper Service at 4:30 p.m.
Another Wake will take place from 10-11 a.m., on Thursday, December 11, with Mass of Christian Burial taking place at 11 a.m.
Sister Rosemary Rafter (formerly Sister Rose Claire)
Complete Ministry
In Indiana: Teacher, St. Patrick, Fort Wayne (1953-57); Teacher, St. Ann, Terre Haute (1957-58); Teacher, St. Luke, Indianapolis (1961-63); Teacher, Sacred Heart, Evansville, (1965-66); Teacher/Principal, Sacred Heart, Evansville (1966-69); Corporate Renewal Team Member, Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1972-74); Provincial, Sacred Heart Province, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1974-77); Residential Service/Health Care Volunteer, Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2022-2025).
In New Hampshire: Teacher, Lady Isle, Portsmouth (1958-61).
In Illinois: Teacher, St. Andrew, Chicago (1962-65); Director of Student Services, Mother Theodore Guerin High School, River Grove (1977-80); Student Counseling Psychology, George Williams College, Downers Grove (1980-82); Pastoral Minister, St. Joseph Parish, Downers Grove (1982-84); Pastoral Associate, St. Joseph Parish, Downers Grove (1984-2008); Volunteer, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul, Joliet (2008-09); Volunteer, Catholic Charities Ministry of Care, Joliet (2009-10); Volunteer, St. Thomas Hospice, Hinsdale (2010-22).
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, are a congregation of Roman Catholic women religious (sisters) who minister throughout the United States and Taiwan. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence in 1840. The congregation has a mission of being God's Providence in the world by committing to performing works of love, mercy and justice in service among God's people.
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