Three Presentation Sisters celebrate jubilees
Three Presentation sisters recently celebrated milestones.
Sister Elizabeth Remily has been serving for 75 years, Sister Virginia Hallauer for 75 years and Sister Lois Ann Sargent for 70 years. Those milestone anniversaries are referred to as jubilees. The women were honored on Saturday, according to a news release from the Aberdeen convent.
Sister Elizabeth Remily
Remily grew up in Turton. After receiving her education in nursing, she became a surgical supervisor at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Mitchell and Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen.
In 1965, she answered Vatican Council II’s call to respond to the growing needs of the rural poor throughout the world. In collaboration with the Presentation Sisters in San Francisco, she traveled to Chiapas, Mexico, and founded Hospital San Carlos. She then established Hospital San Antonio in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Remily returned to the U.S. in 1992 and was the principal founder of Berakhah House in Sioux Falls, a ministry to those living with HIV and AIDS. At age 70, she established medical missions in Guatemala, first in the Department of Solola, and then, at age 80, in the Department of San Marcos.
At each medical mission, indigenous staff were trained to fulfill medical department needs. Each mission is still in operation and now overseen by Mexican and Guatemalan sisters. In 2015, she returned to the U.S. and is enjoying an active retirement in Sioux Falls.
Sister Virginia Hallauer
Hallauer was born in Wallace and graduated from Watertown High School. She received an associate's degree in teaching from Presentation Junior College in Aberdeen and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Northern State University.
Hallauer loved teaching, especially reading. She taught primary students for more than 50 years in Jefferson, Bridgewater, Dell Rapids, Mitchell, Madison, Aberdeen, Watertown and Willmar, Minn.
In 1991, she began a ministry to the homebound at Immaculate Conception Parish in Watertown.
In 2006, she retired from her ministry work and returned to Presentation Convent in Aberdeen where she is active in the congregation’s prayer ministry.
Sister Lois Ann Sargent
Sargent grew up in Clearfield and graduated from Notre Dame High School in Mitchell. She received a certificate of secretarial science from Notre Dame Junior College in Mitchell and earned a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in education administration from Northern State University.
As an elementary teacher and principal for 36 years, Sargent shared her loving smile and giving spirit with students and staff in Anoka, Minn; Jefferson, Sioux Falls, Madison, Huron, Aberdeen and Dell Rapids. Upon moving back to Aberdeen, she assisted in the Presentation Sisters Development Office for eight years.
In 1991, Sargent became the congregational archivist. Her love of history and great organizational skills made her a natural fit for this ministry. She is now fully retired.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Presentation Sisters jubilee 2022 Elizabeth Remily Hallauer Sargent
