Thecla Elizabeth Nuttman was born on April 7th, 1912, in Keuterville, Idaho. From the second to fifth grades Sister attended school in Sublimity and Stayton; then she came to St. Mary’s Institute where she graduated in 1929. During that time, her mother died and she returned home for a while to take care of her younger brothers and sister.

Thecla Nuttman was received as a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon on August 15, 1928, and was given the name Sister M. Victoria. She made perpetual profession of vows in 1933.

Sister’s early college education was completed on Saturdays and at summer sessions. From 1946 to 1948, she studied at St. Louis University and received both her B.A. and M.A. in education. From 1930 to 1979, Sister served in a variety of ministries: grade and high school education and administration, diocesan education supervision, counseling and administration at LaSalle, and finally, parish ministry at St. John the Baptist Parish in Milwaukie. She taught in the following schools: St. Stephen, St. Agatha, Central Catholic in Portland; St. Matthew in Hillsboro; St. Mary in Stayton; Tillamook Catholic High School; St. Mary of the Valley (now Valley Catholic); St. Boniface High School in Sublimity; and La Salle High School in Milwaukie.

In 1991, Sister returned to the Motherhouse and her ministry was to pray, work, and rest. She helped with the canning and baking; she brought Communion to the Sisters in the infirmary; she put puzzles together, kept up with the news, and looked forward to going to the Sisters’ retreat house at Cannon Beach for extended times of prayer and relaxation.

Two of the highlights of Sister’s life were the year she spent in the Credo Program at Gonzaga University (including the trip to the Holy Land in 1987) and a trip to Europe with Sr. Lavinia, OSF, in 1978. While she enjoyed all her years in ministry, she especially loved her time at St. John the Baptist Parish in Milwaukie. Having had a great deal of responsibility, most of her life, she then had time to visit with people both in the office and in their homes.

Sister Victoria was a woman of few, but wise words. She was a practical realist who knew what was essential for living her religious life. She lived each day in gratitude and was recently honored by the SSMO Foundation Alumni as the oldest living alumna on record.

Sister Victoria died at the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on June 30, 2009.

Vigil Service – Sunday, July 5 at 7:00 p.m. – Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
Mass of Christian Burial – Monday, July 6 at 4:00 p.m. – Motherhouse Chapel
Interment – Tuesday, July 7 at 9:00 a.m. in the Sisters’ Cemetery

Memorial offerings may be directed to Sisters’ Retirement Fund through the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation.

May God grant Sister M. Victoria peace forever!

Sister M. Rose Dolores (nee Carolyn Ann Costello) was born on August 9, 1932 in Kent, Washington where she attended public elementary and high school. She worked in the Blue Print Department of Boeing Aircraft Company for eleven years in Renton, Washington.

Sister was received as a novice by the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon in 1963 and became known as Sister M. Rose Dolores. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Marylhurst in 1968 and a Master’s Degree in Education from Portland State University in 1975.

For 27 years, from 1968 until 1995, Sister M. Rose Dolores served at St. Mary of the Valley Elementary School (now known as Valley Catholic) as teacher, vice-principal, and principal. During her term as principal she inaugurated a school board, re-opened the school to accept boys; started a kindergarten; initiated an endowment fund serving both the elementary and high school; and served as chair of the Archdiocesan Area Planning Committee for the SW Cluster for four years. In addition, she served as a Director on the Maryville Nursing Home Board from 1999-2005 and as a member of the Archdiocesan Historical Commission from 2001-2003. In addition to these areas of service, Sister also served as the SSMO Archivist for over ten years

Sister was always up to a challenge. Given a task, she completed it faithfully and masterfully. An example of a task well done and most appreciated for the organization and thoroughness was her coordination and management of the motherhouse fleet of cars! A second example is her commitment and organization of the Community Archives where she worked with Sr. M. Fidelis.

Sister died at the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on June 12, 2009. May she rest in peace.

Sister M. Rose Dolores was preceded in death by her brother Maurice. She is survived by her sister Jeanne Masters and her niece and nephew: Debbie, George, Cynthia, Regis Larry, Laurie, John, Jeff, Lisa, and Carrie.

Vigil Service – June 17 at 7:00 p.m. – Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon
Mass of Christian Burial – June 18 at 4:00 p.m. – Motherhouse Chapel
Interment – June 19 at 9:00 a.m. in the Sisters’ Cemetery

Memorial offerings may be directed to the Capital Campaign for the K-8 Education Center through the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Foundation.

May she rest in God’s embrace!

I am currently a novice and have spent the past year learning the SSMO lifestyle. Our lifestyle is always changing, so I will always be in the process of “learning” it, but this year in particular is meant to lay a foundation for my understanding of what it means to be a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon. A first-year novice, like me, has greater restrictions than the other Sisters. For example, I have restrictions on visitors and on how often I may go out. I have been amazed by how easy it has been for me to meet these requirements; I had thought that I would get bored or lonely this year. Instead, I find that I generally prefer to stay home and spend time with my Sisters or in reflection.

Much of this year has centered on building relationships with my Sisters and with God. I have spent a great deal of my time experiencing our Sister’s various ministries by hearing their stories, seeing them in action, and helping alongside them. You can read more about these ministries throughout our website, but to name some of my highlights, I have particularly enjoyed learning how to make greeting cards and other crafts, helping at St. Joseph Shelter in Mt. Angel, and working in the garden. I have also had opportunities to bond with the Sisters through recreation by playing games (Ping-Pong, Bocce Ball, Hand and Foot, etc.), celebrating Feast Days and holidays, and by spending time putting on a summer camp called Jesus Jamboree (which is also a ministry, but it’s so fun it seems like recreation!).

My relationships with the Sisters are pathways to God and together we foster our relationships with the Lord by praying the Liturgy of the Hours and attending daily Mass together. We set aside a time each month for reconciliation and recollection, have an annual retreat, and attend various talks throughout the year to further our spiritual development. I also devote an hour each day to personal prayer and regularly attend holy hour. My relationship with God is the most crucial aspect my life, especially now that I am part of a Sisterhood in which the members are devoted to knowing, loving, and serving God. It is through my relationship God that I am able to know, love and serve others as a joyful, compassionate servant of the Lord.