Sister Alice (formerly Evangelist) Meis, CSA, 92, a resident of Nazareth Court, 375 Gillett St. Fond du Lac, passed away February 10, 2008 at her home.
She was born August 24, 1915 in Severin, KS, a daughter of the late Philip and Pauline Koerner Meis. Sister Alice professed vows in the Congregation of Saint Agnes of August 15, 1935.
One of five Meis sisters from Kansas to become a Sister of St. Agnes, Sister Alice ministered in the congregation as a homemaker for fifty years of her nearly seventy-three years as a professed sister. She created tasty meals for sisters in various missions in Wisconsin, Indiana, New York, and Illinois, as well as doing laundry and helping with housecleaning chores. For six years in the 1960's, her culinary skills found their way to missions in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua and Quito, Ecuador. In the 1970's she spent four years serving the poor through the Agnesian-run Social Service Center in Mobile, Alabama. From there, Sister Alice once again was called to use her cooking skills in The Leo House in New York City.
One of her sisters remembers that as a child, Sister Alice was fearless, able to handle the bullies of whom other children in their country school were afraid. That fearlessness stood her in good stead when she was called to the strenuous missionary life in Latin America, to social service in Alabama, and to work in the heart of Manhattan at The Leo House, serving a variety of visitors from all over the world.
Since 1989 Sister Alice has lived her retirement years first at the Motherhouse in Fond du Lac, then at Nazareth Heights, and finally at Nazareth Court and Center. Sister was an avid Chicago Bears fan in the heart of Packerland—another sign of fearlessness. She often had a joke, a clever answer, or a humorous twist of language that brought a smile to those with whom she interacted. As her health failed, Sister was uncomplaining and she frequently expressed her desire to be with God. Sister's pleasant nature, her ready wit, and her directness are gifts that will be missed by those she leaves behind.
Survivors include two sisters, Edna Leiker of Burbank, CA, and Sister Roberta Meis CSA of Fond du Lac, nieces, nephews, the members of the Congregation of Saint Agnes with whom she lived and ministered, other relatives and friends.
Preceding her in death are four brothers, Alois, Robert, Fr. Flavian O.F.M. Cap., and Leo, five sisters, Victoria, Tillie McBride, Sister Paulina CSA, Sister Matilda CSA, and Sister Jane CSA.
Visitation: Visitation will be held on Wednesday February 13th, from 10:00 AM until 1:45 PM at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, where a prayer service will be held at 11:00 AM.
Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 PM Wednesday at the St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street. Burial will be in the St. Joseph's Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac.
Memorials may be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54935.
"The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff at Nazareth Court and Center for their care for Sister Alice over these past several years." Preceding her in death are four brothers, Alois, Robert, Fr. Flavian, O.F.M. Cap., and Leo, five sisters, Victoria, Tillie McBride, Sister Paulina, CSA, Sister Matilda, CSA, and Sister Jane, CSA.
Visitation: Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 13, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where a prayer service will be held at 11:00 a.m.
Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Burial will be in the St. Joseph's Springs Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.