Recent Deaths

Sister Mary Eugene Baiardo
1930–2023

Sister Mary Eugene Baiardo, OSM, 93, died peacefully at Mother Theresa Home in Lemont, Ill., on January 31, 2023.

She was born in Joliet, Ill., on January 22, 1930, the daughter of Eugene and Pauline (Cresto) Baiardo. Her baptismal name was Dorothy Mae. Her family called her Dodie.

She entered the Mantellate Sisters Servants of Mary in Blue Island, Ill., on July 16, 1947. She received the habit along with the name Sister Mary Eugene on February 22, 1948. She made her first profession of vows on June 25, 1950, and final profession on June 26, 1955. She transferred to the Servants of Mary in Ladysmith, Wis., on August 7, 1971, and reaffirmed her vows on September 15, 1973.

She was a graduate of St. Francis Academy in Joliet, Ill. She held a bachelor’s in sociology from Loyola University Chicago and a master’s in education from St. Xavier University.

She taught for 54 years in Catholic elementary schools in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. She served as principal of St. Donatus School in Blue Island, Ill., and Holy Family School in St. Louis Park, Minn. She viewed teaching as a way to help children become faithful, caring, and loving individuals.

She served as a lector and eucharistic minister at Franciscan Village in Lemont, Ill., where she spent her retirement years. She trained new lectors and ministers for liturgical celebrations and brought communion to the homebound.

Sister Mary Eugene is survived by her brother Eugene (Kathleen) Baiardo of Dunlap, Ill., many cousins, nieces, and nephews, and the Servite Sisters with whom she shared life for 75 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Pauline Baiardo.

Father Robert Lucas, CM, presided at a Memorial Mass for Sister Mary Eugene at St. Francis of Assisi Chapel at Franciscan Village in Lemont on February 3, 2023. Father Papi Reddy Yeruva, assisted by Deacon Craig Voldberg, presided at a Mass of Christian Burial for her at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Ladysmith on February 7, 2023, with burial in Riverside Cemetery in Ladysmith.