Sister Rebecca Wright answered God’s call home on Friday, April 10, 2026.  She requested a green Burial and was buried on April 15, 2026. A Memorial Mass will be held at Mother of Good Counsel Home on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 9:30 am.

Clara Jo Wright was born August 12, 1932, in Belleville, Illinois, one of four children born to Wallace H. and Norma (Kohl) Wright. After a year-long time of discernment, Clara Jo entered the Sisters of St. Mary on March 7, 1951. She received the name Sr. Marie Rebecca, and she professed final vows September 8, 1956.

Sr. Rebecca earned her BSN (1957) and her Master’s in Hospital Administration (1962), both through Saint Louis University. 

Upon completing her nursing training, she was appointed Surgical Head Nurse (1957–1958) and night supervisor (1958–1960) at St. Mary’s Health Center in St. Louis. Completing her master's, she did her administrative residency in Duluth, Minnesota (1961–1962). She directed Nursing Service at St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin (1962–1964), then served as assistant administrator at St. Mary’s Health Center in St. Louis (1964–1967). From 1967 to 1985 she was Chief Executive Officer at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. She was elected to leadership as a general councilor during the reunification of the Sisters of St. Mary and the Sisters of St. Francis of Maryville, Missouri, as the Franciscan Sisters of Mary (1985–1986). After a year’s sabbatical, she served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Benedictine Health System in Duluth, Minnesota (1987–1990). She has been a consultant and diocesan coordinator in Madison (1992–1994) as well as a nurse and consultant in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she moved in 2010. She served in the Outreach, Health, and Justice Ministry, a haven and advocate for the poor and marginalized of Milwaukee.