A Major Announcement on OLV Cemetery
The Sisters begin cemetery move to Holy Sepulchure Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
As the congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago continue their journey, a major decision has been made on the future of Our Lady of Victory Cemetery that is on the campus of Our Lady of Victory convent. After a lengthy discussion with the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago have made the decision to move all interred Sisters buried in this cemetery to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. Though it was a difficult decision, the Sisters felt that Holy Sepulchre Cemetery would be a beautiful final resting place for all the Sisters. The process of transferring each grave plot, under the direction of Catholic Cemeteries employees, is scheduled in the coming weeks. The overall move will be done with the utmost respect for each interred Sister and follow the guidelines of Catholic reburial.
The History of OLV Cemetery
Our Lady of Victory Cemetery was established in 1967. When the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago built a new motherhouse and moved from Chicago to Lemont in 1963, it was decided a community cemetery would be built on the grounds. First the Sisters purchased land next to the motherhouse and later, in 1966, Sr. M. Venantia Rec (the general vicar) negotiated with the city of Lemont and the Archdiocese of Chicago to plan the proposed cemetery. Before this, the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago were buried in St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois. All Sisters throughout the history of the congregation were buried there (including foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik).
Work on the new cemetery began in the summer of 1967 and interred Sisters were transferred from St. Adalbert to Our Lady of Victory. By autumn of that year, all the Sisters were moved to the new cemetery except for Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik and Sr. M. Chrysostom Keller (whose graves were adjoined). The Sisters had begun to pursue the beatification cause for Mother Mary Theresa. Part of this process requires that Mother Mary Theresa had to be exhumed and her remains analyzed. Thus, her move to the new cemetery was delayed. In 1970, John Cardinal Cody, archbishop of Chicago approved Mother Mary Theresa’s beatification process. She was exhumed in 1972 at St. Adalbert and transferred to a sarcophagus in Sacred Heart Chapel in OLV Convent while Sr. M. Chrysostom was buried in OLV Cemetery. The Sisters moved Mother Mary Theresa's headstone from St. Adalbert and had a special memorial stone created for her on the cemetery grounds.
Moving Forward
Currently, the grave plots are being planned and mapped for each Sister at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Once all Sisters have been moved, there will be another announcement to let everyone know that the transition has been completed. Anyone who wants to visit OLV Cemetery may do so before June 1st. Visitation to the Sisters new grave sites will finally be allowed at Holy Sepulchre once all Sisters have been moved. The Franciscan Sisters of Chicago thank everyone for their prayers and understanding during this time.
(Above) This statue of Mary stands in front of OLV Cemetery.
The Sisters at the original grave site of Mother Mary Theresa Dudizk, foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Niles, Illinois.
Mother Mary Theresa's symbolic burial plot in OLV Cemetery. The smaller headstone was her original headstone in St. Adalbert Cemetery.
Sr. M. Alacoque Czartoryski's grave marker.
OLV Cemetery in Lemont.