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Sister Jane Winkler, O.Carm.

Sister Jane Winkler, O. Carm., went home to her loving Father on the evening of November 6, 2017, after a bout with pneumonia and long decline in health due to Multiple Sclerosis. Sister Jane was known for her poetry and for her feisty, fun-loving, persevering, and kind spirit. She could make anyone she met feel attended to and loved. This was a needed ministry; especially in her last years with other less able residents of the Christian Community Home. She understood them since she had always struggled against limitations of her own. Sister Jane would not bow to the idea of “can’t”.

Sister Jane was born a twin, on December 12, 1948 (the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) in West St. Paul, MN, and was one of four daughters of Philip and Jeanne (Savard) Winkler. She graduated from St. Joseph Academy and earned a BS in Elementary Education, with a minor in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She loved her college friends and the thought of being a teacher and counselor but felt the call to Religious Life. In 1973, she joined the Carmelite Monastery of Hudson, where she continued her life long love of writing poetry. She professed her first Vows in 1976 and professed her Final Vows in 1981. She loved her forty years living in the monastery, she gained a reputation for her delicious cooking.

Her cooking was an outlet to show love by nourishing bodies as well as hearts. People mattered to Sister Jane, many considered her a gifted and spiritual friend. Siater Jane made it a point to learn everyone’s name whether they were an attendant or visitor. Knowing names was important to Sister Jane. Because of this, she had a wide circle of friends that extended throughout and beyond her Carmelite Community.

The Carmelite Monastery has beautiful grounds and gardens. Sister Jane enjoyed both the gardens and the music at Mass especially since the garden joined the Sisters through the glass in the Chapel. The shared prayer with the community was always a highlight for Sister Jane.

She is survived by the remaining Carmelite Sisters at the monastery and her twin Julie Winkler, sister Chris (Jack) Berger, and Nora (Larry) Kirby, niece Amy (Jeff) Fleigle and their children Isabella and Olivia, nephew Andy (Erin) Berger and their children Hadley and Drew. Sister Jane was preceded in death by Sister Mary O’Neill and Sister Gemma Angelo, her parents, and step-father Ben Schreiner.

She believed in the Resurrection of Jesus and looked forward to joining her Savior, her parents, Mother Mary, St. Therese, and friends (like Tom Perillo) and so many others in her next Home. Sister Jane is much loved by her family and will be missed by many.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 10, at the St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1500 Vine St., Hudson. Visitation 4:00-7:00 PM Thursday, with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service, November 9, at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, and one hour prior to Mass on Friday at the church. Memorials preferred.

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