Obituary

Omaha native served in teaching and family ministries

A love of children and concern for their welfare and that of their families was a central focus for Servant of Mary Sister Evangeline Wilkinson throughout her 70 years of religious life.

Sister Evangeline died Dec. 19 in Omaha. She was 89.

A private wake service was held Dec. 22 at the Servants of Mary motherhouse chapel with burial in the motherhouse cemetery. A public memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

A native of Omaha, Sister Evangline entered religious life in 1948 and professed final vows in 1955.

She began a 24-year teaching career as one of the first teachers at then-St. Pius X School in Omaha when it opened in 1956. She also taught at Omaha’s Holy Name School as well as other Catholic schools in Michigan and Iowa.

In 1980, Sister Evangline left teaching to become director of Head Start in Omaha, an organization providing pre-school age children of low-income families with educational, emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological support.

She also served as family life director for the Grand Island diocese, as well as dioceses in New Jersey and Colorado, and in religious education programs at parishes in Maryland and Washington.

Upon returning to Omaha, Sister Evangline served as a cook at the St. James Parish rectory and worked with her order in community service. In retirement she continued her service to the poor and participated in prayer ministry.

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