Sister Clare was born Feb. 25, 1937, to Art and Johanna (Ann) Simon on a farm in the town of Vandenbroek. She is the oldest and has one precious brother, Dave. Her dad was a farmer and cheesemaker. Sister had her hands in both.
Sister Clare attended St. John Grade School and High School in her hometown, Little Chute. During high school she thought about being a Sister but pushed it out of her mind because she was having too much fun going to dances. With the grace of God, Sister Clare entered St. Francis Pre-Novitiate in Robinsonville (Champion) after graduation. She was received as a novice in 1956 and lived as a novice at the Motherhouse for two years. After Profession, Sister served as a homemaker at St. Matthew Convent in Green Bay followed by three years at Robinsonville, cooking and baking huge cookies for the aspirants and doing the Charleston with them. Sister served three summers at Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island in Door County, cooking for retreatants and enjoying the beauty of nature and the islanders.
She served the elderly at McCormick Home for 14 years, 12 years as a Nursing Home Administrator. She received her nursing home license after completing the coursework and passing State Boards. She also served the elderly at Keen Agers in Oneida and at Parkview Manor Nursing Home.
In 1980 she went back to the Motherhouse to be Maintenance/Housekeeping Coordinator and supervisor of the cars. She currently is the Motherhouse treasurer.
She is most grateful for the support of her family, her Sisters, her friends and co-workers. She says if it wasn’t for their prayers she would not be celebrating 65 years as a Sister. Her favorite saying is “Give Thanks to the Lord for His Love is Everlasting.”
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