Obituary for Monica M. Saksefski
Monica Saksefski passed away on January 21, 2022, after a long and full life, at the age of 88. She was born in South Milwaukee, WI and enjoyed spending time on picnics and celebrating holidays with her extended family while she was growing up.
Monica was a 1951 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy. She professed as a Racine Dominican nun and taught in many Catholic Schools for 16 years. During that time, she was also the organist for her parish and part-time cook for her community of sisters. She completed a Master’s degree in Teaching Mathematics from Webster College (St. Louis, MO). She, at one point, was a Principal, Superior and teacher of 8th grade at St. Patrick’s school in Racine, WI.
After 18 years as a nun, she decided to leave the Community. She then taught in the public schools in Benton Harbor, MI for one year until returning to Racine and working in the Racine Unified School District in Wisconsin from 1970 until her retirement in 1990. She truly loved teaching mathematics and had a special fondness for teaching 6th grade students.
Monica was an avid bowler, participating in many tournaments in various states. She also enjoyed playing golf. She traveled to the Western US, Mexico and Brazil. Many of Monica‘s siblings had a musical bent, enjoying singing and playing various instruments. Monica recorded music on her digital synthesizer. That was a very fond memory for her in her last days. Monica had a large supply of tools and not only knew how to use them, but enjoyed building things and fixing things. Even in her final months, she came up with solutions to the circumstances she found herself living in. At 88, Monica used her cell phone and computer to print cards and keep up with friends and the business of daily living. She always shared, that part of what kept her able to clean and cook at an advanced age was the use of a rolling stool. She would sit on her stool and roll around the kitchen while she cooked and cleaned floors.
Monica was a ‘people person’ and made friends easily. She was still in contact with friends from her high school days and helped create a group of very friendly and interactive condo neighbors. She thought of herself as very lucky to be part of a friend’s family circle. Her friend’s 2 grandsons dubbed her “Grammica”, as she was a huge part of their lives growing up.
She was predeceased by her parents Louis and Mary, brothers Louis (and his wife Anne), Jerome, Gervase, Wilfred, sister Anne and a nephew (John) and a niece (Laurieann).
She is survived by 6 nieces and 4 nephews and their children, and many friends.
Monica believed in the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Thank you, to the caretakers and nurses at All Saints / Ascension Hospital, Compassus Inpatient Hospice and the Woods of Caledonia, all in Racine, to Seasons Hospice in Oak Creek and to all the people at the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) in Racine. Memorials may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
A Celebration of Life is planned for warmer weather. A notice will be placed in The Racine Journal Times at a later date to announce the place and time.
Monica was a 1951 graduate of St. Mary’s Academy. She professed as a Racine Dominican nun and taught in many Catholic Schools for 16 years. During that time, she was also the organist for her parish and part-time cook for her community of sisters. She completed a Master’s degree in Teaching Mathematics from Webster College (St. Louis, MO). She, at one point, was a Principal, Superior and teacher of 8th grade at St. Patrick’s school in Racine, WI.
After 18 years as a nun, she decided to leave the Community. She then taught in the public schools in Benton Harbor, MI for one year until returning to Racine and working in the Racine Unified School District in Wisconsin from 1970 until her retirement in 1990. She truly loved teaching mathematics and had a special fondness for teaching 6th grade students.
Monica was an avid bowler, participating in many tournaments in various states. She also enjoyed playing golf. She traveled to the Western US, Mexico and Brazil. Many of Monica‘s siblings had a musical bent, enjoying singing and playing various instruments. Monica recorded music on her digital synthesizer. That was a very fond memory for her in her last days. Monica had a large supply of tools and not only knew how to use them, but enjoyed building things and fixing things. Even in her final months, she came up with solutions to the circumstances she found herself living in. At 88, Monica used her cell phone and computer to print cards and keep up with friends and the business of daily living. She always shared, that part of what kept her able to clean and cook at an advanced age was the use of a rolling stool. She would sit on her stool and roll around the kitchen while she cooked and cleaned floors.
Monica was a ‘people person’ and made friends easily. She was still in contact with friends from her high school days and helped create a group of very friendly and interactive condo neighbors. She thought of herself as very lucky to be part of a friend’s family circle. Her friend’s 2 grandsons dubbed her “Grammica”, as she was a huge part of their lives growing up.
She was predeceased by her parents Louis and Mary, brothers Louis (and his wife Anne), Jerome, Gervase, Wilfred, sister Anne and a nephew (John) and a niece (Laurieann).
She is survived by 6 nieces and 4 nephews and their children, and many friends.
Monica believed in the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated.
Thank you, to the caretakers and nurses at All Saints / Ascension Hospital, Compassus Inpatient Hospice and the Woods of Caledonia, all in Racine, to Seasons Hospice in Oak Creek and to all the people at the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) in Racine. Memorials may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
A Celebration of Life is planned for warmer weather. A notice will be placed in The Racine Journal Times at a later date to announce the place and time.