Rest in peace, Jefferson City native Sr. Rose Mary Forck CCVI (UPDATED)
CLICK HERE to watch a remembrance video of Sister Rose Mary.
This article has been updated to include memories from a fellow sister in Sr. Rose Mary's congregation.
Mike Zuniga wrote a paper about Jefferson City native Sister Rose Mary Forck CCVI during his freshman year at the University of Kansas.
More specifically, he wrote about what happened when he broke the rules.
“I got caught chewing gum on campus. Big mistake on my part,” said Mr. Zuniga, a member of the Class of 1976 at St. Sebastian School in St. Louis.
“I’ll always remember that day in the principal’s office — my penance and having to explain to my parents what I did to earn the punishment,” he said. “A transformative day for sure!”
His teaching assistant thought it was great and gave him a high mark.
“Rest In peace, ‘Sr. Gerard,’ and thank you for your vocation as a religious sister and educator,” said Mr. Zuniga.
Sister Rose Mary (formerly Sister Mary Gerard) Forck CCVI, 91, a Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word, died on Oct. 16 at The Village at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 21 in the Chapel of the Incarnate Word in the CCVI Generalate in San Antonio.
Sr. Rose Mary is a sibling to Sister Bernadette Forck CCVI, who taught in Jefferson City for many years and moved to The Village at Incarnate Word several years ago.
Sr. Rose Mary was born on Feb. 14, 1933, in Jefferson City, a daughter of the late Gerard and Rose Mary (Castrop) Forck.
She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in 1951 and professed first vows in 1954 and final vows in 1959.
Versatile educator
Much of Sr. Rose Mary’s work as a sister involved education ministry.
In the Jefferson City diocese, she taught from 1957-58 at the former St. Patrick School in St. Patrick.
Howard Kirchner, a lifelong member of Shrine of St. Patrick Parish, was in middle school at St. Patrick School during Sr. Rose Mary’s short time teaching younger grades there.
“Sr. Gerard was the youngest sister I remember being there,” he recalled. “She was really nice. They were all nice, but she was younger than the rest and wanted to play ball with the kids at recess and things like that. The kids really loved that.”
She also taught at St. Frances of Rome School in Cicero, Illinois, from 1954-55; at St. Sebastian School in St. Louis from 1955-57; and at St. Dismas School in Florissant from 1958-62.
She served as a principal and educator at St. Catherine Laboure School in Cahokia, Illinois, from 1962-64; at Our Lady of Victory School in Paris, Texas, from 1964-66; at St. Catherine Laboure School in Cahokia, Illinois, from 1966-70; and at St. Sebastian School in St. Louis from 1970-75.
She was elected to congregational leadership in 1975, serving a term as a councilor for the CCVI St. Louis Provincialate until 1981.
She studied at the Oblate School of Theology, a graduate school for theological studies and spirituality in San Antonio, in 1981-82, then served until 1985 as the head of formation for the CCVI novitiate in San Antonio.
She then served for 10 years in ministry at the San Antonio residential facility, followed by a yearlong sabbatical.
She returned to San Antonio in 1996 and was assistant to the director of the Oblate School until 2003.
She was then her congregation’s contact person for new members until 2009.
She then served until 2013 as a full-time caregiver at the Village at Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Teacher, friend
Jefferson City native Sister Cathy Vetter CCVI’s memories of Sr. Rose Mary go back to Sr. Cathy’s first year after professing vows, when she was sent to teach at St. Sebastian School in St. Louis, where Sr. Rose Mary was the new principal.
“Since I was so new at teaching — I had not even finished my undergraduate degree at that time — she had to mentor me in many ways,” Sr. Cathy recalled.
Sr. Cathy got to teach English to all the seventh- and eighth-graders at the school, with about 50 students in the classroom, in addition to working toward a degree to teach chemistry and math to high school students.
“‘Sr. Rosie,’ as we fondly called her, was very patient with me as she helped me to have some kind of rapport with the students who treated me like I was their big sister and not their teacher,” Sr. Cathy recalled.
She said Sr. Rose Mary was always a delight to live with and ready for whatever fun her fellow sisters and she might invent.
“She loved our sisters and was a good leader,” said Sr. Cathy. “I recall meeting students she had known from several of our schools, and they only recalled what a fine teacher and friend she was to so many over her years in education.”
Inspiring leader
Kathy Forck of Holts Summit met Sr. Rose Mary when Mrs. Forck married Sister’s nephew, Mike Forck, in 2007.
“What a delight she always was!” Mrs. Forck posted on the funeral home’s tribute board. “Her sweet smile, infectious laugh and concern for all was a delight to behold.”
Mrs. Forck recalled that Sr. Rose Mary was interested in pro-life work and spent time praying on the sidewalk outside Columbia’s Planned Parenthood clinic.
“I’m sure the babies, who felt her love for them, were there to greet her on her way to her heavenly home,” Mrs. Forck wrote.
News of Sr. Rose Mary’s passing brought forth many memories from graduates of the former St. Sebastian School in St. Louis.
Jim Pickett remembers her as a very kind second-grade teacher.
Kathy Rocco Greifzu had Sr. Rose Mary as her principal during her eighth-grade year.
“I remember her being very strict, but I know she wanted us all to work hard and succeed in life,” said Ms. Greifzu. “I’m sure we were a handful at that age. God bless her, as I am sure she guided us into our future in high school.”
“She had a good, caring heart,” said fellow St. Sebastian alum Cheryl Gould.
“I remember her being very thoughtful and kind,” said Therese Michalski Gabriel.
Margaret Huelsing Posner echoed that sentiment: “very kind.”
“So good, so fair,” said Amy Mulholland, a member of the St. Sebastian Class of 1970.
Joyce Willenbrink Lenoir remembers Sr. Rose Mary as being “very strict, but I respected her.”
“She taught us how to be respectful to her and to others,” said Cindy Powell. “We stood when she entered the classroom, but it was not out of fear. Showing respect helped make us stronger, better-rounded people.”
Leesa Luu recalled observing Sr. Rose Mary’s unique mannerisms.
“It seemed like she always had her right hand on her chin, with her right finger on the side of her cheek, tapping as if she was thinking, and she would rock back and forth on her heels at the same time,” Ms. Luu said.
Such devoted sisters
In recent years, Sr. Rose Mary was a resident of The Village at Incarnate Word Senior Living Community, where her sister, Sr. Bernadette, came to live several years ago.
A fellow resident, a writer, once wrote of the two sibling-sisters’ days together there.
“They were born into the same family — and their closeness was beauty to behold,” the sisters’ friend wrote. “... How dear are two Sisters who are beautifully in community and in communion one with the other.”
Fellow Jefferson City native Sister Peggy Bonnot CCVI said Sr. Rose Mary touched her fellow sisters’ hearts with her kindness, gentleness and sisterly love.
Her arms were always open for a hug.
“Her caregivers during the last years became very fond of her,” Sr. Peggy noted. “We all miss her terribly.”
She recalled that Sr. Rose Mary loved all of God’s creation, especially cats.
“During her years in Independent Living, she made sure the numerous outdoor cats were fed, named and, in inclement weather, had a warm and safe place to sleep,” said Sr. Peggy.
Catching up
Sr. Rose Mary was one of three girls and one boy in the St. Peter High School Class of 1951 who entered religious life.
In February 2021, she joined classmates in recalling the class production of “The Song of Bernadette,” about the child who received the gift of apparitions from the Blessed Mother in 1858 in a grotto in Lourdes, France.
The future Sr. Rose Mary portrayed the Blessed Mother in that production.
She was also active in a high school group known as Mary’s Messengers. Members would visit blocks throughout the city and invite people to join them in invoking Our Lady’s powerful intercession.
Fellow Jefferson City native Sister Josetta Eveler CCVI was a member of Sr. Rose Mary’s graduating class at St. Peter High School.
“When we were in high school, the Fatima statue was moving around St. Peter Parish, and the high school students were asked to accompany it and give a talk,” Sr. Josetta recalled.
“Sr. Rosie volunteered to do this, and my parents let me be her chauffeur since I had just gotten my driver’s license,” she said.
In an interview three years ago with The Catholic Missourian, Sr. Rose Mary said she enjoyed going to various homes and praying the Rosary with people.
She was convinced that that experience, along with portraying Our Lady of Lourdes in her senior play, helped steer her toward religious life.
Just like the visionary’s mother in “The Song of Bernadette,” Sr. Rose Mary said in 2021 that she was amazed at how quickly time goes by.
“It sure does catch up with you,” she stated. “That’s a great thing for young people to remember.”
Preceding Sr. Rose Mary in death were her parents; her sisters Mary Ann (Kolb), Irene and Sister Mary Rose; and her brothers Jerome, Luke and Mark.
Surviving are her sister, Sr. Bernadette, of San Antonio, and by numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives, friends and her community, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
