Sister of St. Francis Valerie Jarzembowski dies at 89 May 16, 2025By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries A funeral Mass for Sister of St. Francis of Assisi Valerie Jarzembowski (formerly Sister Raymond) was offered May 8 at her religious community’s motherhouse in Wisconsin. Sister Valerie died April 29. She was 89. Born in Queens, N.Y., she professed vows as a Sister of St. Mary’s Abbey, Mill Hill Abbey, England (later the Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore) in 1957. The Franciscan Sisters of Baltimore merged with the Milwaukee-based Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in 2001. In Baltimore, Sister Valerie ministered at St. Elizabeth School as a special education teacher, administrator and financial assistant (1972-74, 1994-99, 2002-12) and at St. Francis School as a special education teacher and administrator (1976-89, 1992-93). She and Sister of St. Francis of Assisi Mildred Rothwell, worked with Catholic Charities of Baltimore to start Chara House, a program that cared for babies with AIDS (1989-92). She received her bachelor’s degree in education from what is now Notre Dame of Maryland University in Baltimore and a master’s degree in education (special education) from what is now Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore. She also held a master’s degree in administration/supervision from Loyola University Maryland. Elsewhere, Sister Valerie ministered in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts. More obituaries Jesuit Father Vincent de Paul Alagia dies at 99 Sister Sigrid Simlik, former teacher in Baltimore, dies at 97 A silent life behind three popes: Farewell to Angelo Gugel, the iconic papal butler John L. Allen Jr.: A Man for All Seasons, at a Roman Table Crux editor, veteran Vatican journalist John Allen loses battle with cancer Father Zanardini, top missionary anthropologist among Indigenous groups, dies in Paraguay at 83 Copyright © 2025 Catholic Review Media Print
