In memoriam: Sister Dorothy (Dorothy Lorraine) Olinger

Sister Dorothy (Dorothy Lorraine) Olinger died on Sept. 18, 2022 at Ascension

St. Vincent Hospital in Evansville, Ind.  Sister was born on July 3, 1933 in Chicago and was one of twelve children of Madona (Coonrad) and Peter Olinger.  Sr. Dorothy graduated from St. Gregory High School in Chicago and entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, Mo., in 1952.

Olinger Sister Dorothy, Daughters of Charity

     After initial formation, Sr. Dorothy served as a teacher at St. Theresa School in New Orleans (1953-1956), St. Thomas Home in Birmingham, Ala. (1956-1963), St.  Vincent School in Donaldsonville, La. (where she also served as principal, 1963-1969), St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich, Ill. (1969-1973), Cathedral School in Natchez, Miss. (1973-1985), St. Joseph School in East St. Louis, Ill. (1985-1987), St. James Major School in Prichard, Ala. (1995-2001), and Our Lady of the Valley Center in Gloverville, S.C. (2014-2016).  Sister received a BA in English from Marillac College in St. Louis, Mo. (1963) and an MA in Elementary Math Education from the University of Detroit in Michigan (1978).  Sister also served as a Housemother at St. Elizabeth Home in New Orleans, La. (1956), Computer Consultant at St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisc. (1987-1993), Registrar at St. Louise de Marillac High School in Northfield, Ill. (1993-1994), Docent at the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Md. (2001-2003), Tutor-Aide at St. Therese School in Jackson, Miss. (2003-2008) and Receptionist at Catholic Charities in Nashville, Tenn. (2008-2014) until she came to Seton Residence in Evansville in 2016 to serve in the Ministry of Prayer.

     A Wake Service was held on Monday, September 26, 2022 in the Seton Residence Chapel followed by the Mass of Christian Burial; internment at St. Joseph Cemetery.  Sister was preceded in death by her sisters Patricia LoCoco, Mary Catherine Drollinger, Margaret Sellars, Elizabeth Keller and Elaine Tipton and her brothers William, Thomas, John and Joseph Olinger and she is survived by her brother Michael Olinger and her sister Donna Talley, nieces and nephews, her Sisters in Community and many friends.

     Donations may be made to the Daughters of Charity, 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108.