SINSINAWA — Sister Madelyn Kortendick, OP, died Dec. 24, 2013, at St. Dominic Villa. Her religious name was Sister Sulpice. The funeral Mass was held in Queen of the Rosary Chapel at Sinsinawa Dec. 30, 2013, followed by burial in the Motherhouse Cemetery.
Sister Madelyn made her first religious profession as a Sinsinawa Dominican Aug. 5, 1937, and her final profession Aug. 5, 1940. She taught for 30 years and served as principal for 13 years, pastoral minister for two years, and as support staff for 13 years. Sister Madelyn was one of the first four missionaries from the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation sent to Holy Cross Parish, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where she opened the school, taught English to people of all ages, gave catechetical instruction, and served as pastoral minister. She served in Illinois, New York, and Wisconsin, as well as Bolivia.
In the Diocese of Madison, Sister Madelyn served as principal at St. Rose, Cuba City, 1987-1989, and as support staff at the motherhouse, Sinsinawa, 1989-2002.
Sister Madelyn was born Dec. 24, 1916, in Pecatonica, Ill., the daughter of Laurence and Margaret (Dooley) Kortendick. She was preceded her in death by her parents; four sisters, an infant, Mary Kortendick, Marion Lawton, and Sister Marie Laurence Kortendick , OP; and two brothers, Bernard Kortendick and the Reverend James Kortendick, SS. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and her Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 76 years.
Memorials may be made to the Sinsinawa Dominicans, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI, 53824-9701 or online at www.sinsinawa.org by clicking on “Donate Now,” then “Honor and Memorial Gift.”
Repeat broadcasts of the wake and funeral for Sister Helen are available online at www.Sinsinawa.org/live. Click on the “on demand” tab.