Sr. Rose Marie Lorentzen, BVM

Sister Rose Marie Lorentzen, BVM, (St. Carol), 89, of Mount Carmel Bluffs, 1160 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa, died Friday, December 20, 2024.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Mary Frances Clarke Chapel at Mount Carmel Bluffs. Sharing of Memories will be at 9:30 a.m., followed immediately by the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial is in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Sister Rose Marie was an elementary teacher at St. Martin in Cascade, Iowa. She also was an elementary teacher in Chicago; a secondary teacher in Milwaukee and Memphis, Tennessee; and a religious education instructor in Chicago and Franklin Park, Illinois. She served as parish minister, social justice advocate, bilingual community college instructor and tutor, and was founder and executive director of Hesed House, a homeless shelter in Aurora, Illinois.

She was born June 3, 1935, in Walsh County, North Dakota. She entered the BVM congregation August 2, 1959, from St. Francis Xavier Parish, Chicago. She professed first vows on February 2, 1962, and final vows on July 16, 1967.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Duane and Leesa “Lee” Lorentzen.  She is survived by nephews and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 65 years

Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.

Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque, Iowa 52003 is in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.