Sister Maria Oppreicht
Sister Maria Oppreicht, 91, passed away Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green.
Marion Patricia (Mary Pat) was born Dec. 24, 1930, the youngest of eight children born to Herman and Mayme (McNamara) Oppreicht. She was raised on the family farm near Lynxville, and attended Leitner and Shaw Hill Elementary, both one-room schools. Mary Pat completed her freshman year at Seneca High School, where she was chosen as the freshman representative on the Prom Court, and then enrolled at St. Clara Academy, Sinsinawa, from which she graduated in June of 1948. After spending one year at Edgewood College in Madison, she entered the Society of Dominican Sisters Order of Preachers. She made her profession in 1951 and took the name Sister Maria Goretti. Sister taught elementary school in Sioux Falls, S.D., Oklahoma City, Okla., Winnetka, Ill., East Dubuque, Ill. and Cuba City. In 1975, Sister Maria received her Master’s Degree from UW-Platteville and became a guidance counselor at Campion High School in Prairie du Chien. Later, she became a member of the Parish Support Staff in Oklahoma. In 1999, Sister returned to Wisconsin and became a reiki practitioner in Madison. Sister Maria retired to the Motherhouse at Sinsinawa in 2010. She had been at the Villa since September 2021.
Sister Maria is survived by her Dominican Family. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews who called her Aunt Packy.
She so enjoyed the family 4th of July gatherings, the Crawford County Fair and the Christmas family celebrations where she often shared her famous homemade fudge.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Edward, Eugene “Bud” (Elizabeth), John and Greg (Rilla) Oppreicht, and three sisters, Helen (Sister Hermana), Monica (David) Deneen and Rita Oppriecht.
Marion Patricia, Mary Pat, Sister Maria Goretti, Sister Maria, Aunt Packy, whichever name you remember her by, she will be missed. May she rest in peace.
Funeral services and burial were held at the Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. The Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque was in charge of arrangements.
