Sister Anastasia forwarded your request to me today. I am enclosing a short biography that is in Sister's file here. I hope it will help you.
Yes, with the sale of Holy Family Convent in Danville, we had to transfer the graves from the cemetery there to St. Joseph Cemetery in Danville, where our recently departed Sisters are also buried. Unfortunately, I have no record of the new plots, etc., but I am sure St. Joseph Cemetery can help you with that.
Blessings during this Lenten season!
Sister Mary Perpetua, SCC
Eastern Province Archivist
Sisters of Christian Charity
350 Bernardsville Rd.
Mendham, NJ 07945
973-543-6528 x251
[email protected]
Biography
Sister Secunda Thelen, nee Maria Thelen, was born in Dalis [sic], a town near Westphalia, Michigan, on Our Lady's Birthday, September 8, 1865. Her father, Johan Mathias Thelen and her mother, who died when Maria was only eight years old, had both come to America from Germany. Maria attended our school in Westphalia for two years. She received her First Holy Communion on May 27, 1877 and was confirmed in 1878.
Maria entered the Postulancy in Wilkes Barre on May 1, 1883 and was invested on August 9. After her Investing, Sister Secunda helped in the house and in the garden. She made her First Profession on August 12, 1885. After her First Holy Vows, she remained in the Motherhouse and resumed her duties.
On December 19, 1898, Sister Secunda was transferred to our new home for the elderly and sick Sisters in Danville. Here she was the diligent, prayerful Martha, who lovingly cared for the garden during the next nine years.
On April 12, 1908, Sister was called to the Motherhouse in Wilkes Barre for a much needed rest and because she was showing signs of mental illness. From mid-December 1908 until January 1909 Sister helped in St. Nicholas, Wilkes Barre, and then returned to the Motherhouse.
Sister was assigned to Holy Family Convent in Danville in the hope that her health, her anxiety and her mental confusion would improve. Sister Secunda realized the cross she had been asked to carry and she accepted all as the Will of God. On February 13, 1909, Sister was taken to Mount Hope in Baltimore for professional treatment. After she improved, Sister Secunda spent some time with our Sisters in Baltimore and then returned to Danville on July 29, 1910.
Sister Secunda tried to help wherever she could. Her kidney ailment often caused her severe back pain, weakness and shortness of breath. During the last year of her life, the cross of her anxiety and mental confusion was lifted from her shoulders. She became very quiet and peaceful.
Sister asked to make her Final Profession and this grace was given her on March 23, 1914. That same day, she also received the consolations of Holy Church. Despite her pain, Sister now joyfully awaited the coming of her Divine Bridegroom. A few days later, on March 28, 1914, supported by the prayers of the Chaplain and of her Sisters, Sister Secunda peacefully went to the Heavenly Wedding Feast. Sister is buried in Holy Family Cemetery, Danville, Pennsylvania.
Sister Anastasia forwarded your request to me today. I am enclosing a short biography that is in Sister's file here. I hope it will help you.
Yes, with the sale of Holy Family Convent in Danville, we had to transfer the graves from the cemetery there to St. Joseph Cemetery in Danville, where our recently departed Sisters are also buried. Unfortunately, I have no record of the new plots, etc., but I am sure St. Joseph Cemetery can help you with that.
Blessings during this Lenten season!
Sister Mary Perpetua, SCC
Eastern Province Archivist
Sisters of Christian Charity
350 Bernardsville Rd.
Mendham, NJ 07945
973-543-6528 x251
[email protected]
Biography
Sister Secunda Thelen, nee Maria Thelen, was born in Dalis [sic], a town near Westphalia, Michigan, on Our Lady's Birthday, September 8, 1865. Her father, Johan Mathias Thelen and her mother, who died when Maria was only eight years old, had both come to America from Germany. Maria attended our school in Westphalia for two years. She received her First Holy Communion on May 27, 1877 and was confirmed in 1878.
Maria entered the Postulancy in Wilkes Barre on May 1, 1883 and was invested on August 9. After her Investing, Sister Secunda helped in the house and in the garden. She made her First Profession on August 12, 1885. After her First Holy Vows, she remained in the Motherhouse and resumed her duties.
On December 19, 1898, Sister Secunda was transferred to our new home for the elderly and sick Sisters in Danville. Here she was the diligent, prayerful Martha, who lovingly cared for the garden during the next nine years.
On April 12, 1908, Sister was called to the Motherhouse in Wilkes Barre for a much needed rest and because she was showing signs of mental illness. From mid-December 1908 until January 1909 Sister helped in St. Nicholas, Wilkes Barre, and then returned to the Motherhouse.
Sister was assigned to Holy Family Convent in Danville in the hope that her health, her anxiety and her mental confusion would improve. Sister Secunda realized the cross she had been asked to carry and she accepted all as the Will of God. On February 13, 1909, Sister was taken to Mount Hope in Baltimore for professional treatment. After she improved, Sister Secunda spent some time with our Sisters in Baltimore and then returned to Danville on July 29, 1910.
Sister Secunda tried to help wherever she could. Her kidney ailment often caused her severe back pain, weakness and shortness of breath. During the last year of her life, the cross of her anxiety and mental confusion was lifted from her shoulders. She became very quiet and peaceful.
Sister asked to make her Final Profession and this grace was given her on March 23, 1914. That same day, she also received the consolations of Holy Church. Despite her pain, Sister now joyfully awaited the coming of her Divine Bridegroom. A few days later, on March 28, 1914, supported by the prayers of the Chaplain and of her Sisters, Sister Secunda peacefully went to the Heavenly Wedding Feast. Sister is buried in Holy Family Cemetery, Danville, Pennsylvania.
Family Members
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Christian Thelen
1861–1919
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Joseph Thelen
1862–1931
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Katherine Thelen Motz
1867–1943
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Elizabeth Thelen Fox
1870–1959
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Anna Thelen Bitschnau
1873–1930
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Nickolaus "Nick" Thelen
1874–1901
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Thresia Thelen
1875–1903
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Emma Ann Thelen Droste
1876–1955
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Margaret M Thelen Young
1877–1943
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Helen Marie Thelen Fedewa
1878–1961
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Gertrude C. Thelen Theisen
1878–1935
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William Thelen
1879–1901
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Theodore Thelen
1882–1945
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Clara M Thelen Ley
1883–1980
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Frank Thelen
1886–1935
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Susan Thelen Tilmann
1888–1947
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Christina Kathryn Thelen Schueller
1889–1966
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