Sister Barbara Jean Peplinski's Obituary
Sister Barbara Jean Peplinski, 94 years old, a Sister of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis for 77 years, died Friday, November 7, 2025, at Jennings Hall.
The former Anita Peplinski was born March 17,1931, in Milwaukee, WI. She was the last of seven children of Stanley W. and Genevieve (Grzechowiak) Peplinski.
On August 10, 1948, Sister Barbara Jean was received into he Novitiate of the Order. She pronounced her Perpetual Vows on August 11, 1955.
Sister Barbara Jean served as teacher and organist for 22 years in 8 Parish Schools in Wisconsin, in the LaCrosse and Green Bay Dioceses. (1950-1972). She then filled roles in Community service as Provincial Secretary in Stevens Point, WI, for six years and another year as Directress of Novices in a pilot program of in Inter-community Novitiate in Milwaukee, WI. This was followed by ten years of ministering to nursing home residents at Marian Catholic Home in Milwaukee, WI., working in the Physical Therapy Dept. In 1990, she returned to St. Joseph Motherhouse in Stevens Point where she served as liturgist, organist, and pastoral care minister to the sick and elderly Sisters for the next 20 years. She retired in 2010 and continued to offer services to the sick and elderly Sisters in the Nursing Center.
Sister Barbara Jean was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters-Sister Alphonse, SSJ-TOSF, Sister Josephine Marie, SSJ-TOSF, and Sister Bernadette, SSJ-TOSF-and three brothers-Bro. Herman Joseph, OFM, Bro. Aloysius, OFM, and Henry C. Peplinski, Sister-in-law, Sue Peplinski, and nephew, John Peplinski. Survivors include the Sisters of St. Joseph, SSJ-TOSF, two nieces, four nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may gather at Holy Spirit Chapel at Jennings Center for Older Adults, 10204 Granger Rd, Garfield Heights, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. Sister Barbara Jean will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Convent Cemetery, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
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