DELHI TOWNSHIP — Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Jean Welling died June 19, 2021, at the age of 85 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility for the Sisters of Charity. Sister Jean was born on March 17, 1936, to George J. and Clara (Walter) Welling in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was one of four children, two girls and two boys. She was a Sister of Charity for 66 years.
Sister Jean grew up in Cincinnati, attending Holy Family grade school and graduating from Mother of Mercy High School in 1954. She had a clear sense of God’s personal invitation to religious life when she received her First Communion as a second-grader and student of the Sisters of Charity; she remained true to her call. Sister Jean entered the Sisters of Charity on Sept. 8, 1954.
Sister Jean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1965 and a master’s degree in education from the University of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, in 1973. She earned a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from St. Joseph College, West Hartford, Connecticut, in 1992.
Sister Jean’s ministries spanned more than 55 years: 18 as a classroom teacher, 16 in religious education and 24 in pastoral ministry, serving in the dioceses of Cincinnati, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; and Columbus, Ohio. In her early years she taught in the primary classroom at St. Raphael, Springfield, Ohio (1956-’58); St. Saviour, Cincinnati (1958-’62); Springer School, Cincinnati (1962-’66); St. Luke, Detroit, MI (1966-’68) and St. Leo, Detroit (1968-’74).
Sister Jean transitioned to pastoral ministry at St. Leo parish, Detroit (1974-’76) before serving as religious education coordinator at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Wooster, OH (1976-’81). She ministered as director of religious education at St. Charles, Kettering (1981-’83) before going to St. Vincent de Paul, Mount Vernon, in June 1983. Sister Jean first served as director of religious education, but upon completing her master’s in pastoral ministry she began her parish pastoral responsibilities for funeral preparations, grief counseling, direction of the RCIA program, retreats, training and coordination of lectors, spiritual direction, nursing and homebound visitation, and coordination of lay visitors, a labor of love she continued until her retirement in 2014.
Sister Jean’s enthusiasm for an active spiritual life encouraged many to become participants in programs offered. She had a gift for bringing unity to many different people that she drew into her ministry with her. She offered them a sense of empowerment to get involved in the faith life of the church. She would say of her call, “My pastoral ministry at St. Vincent de Paul gives me a happy heart.”
She was proud to serve as a member of the Council of Religious for the Diocese of Columbus. Her special interests included faith sharing, spiritual development, dream work, travel and cooking. A highlight for her was the opportunity to attend a reconciliation celebration in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s where she was able to return on several occasions.
A friend, Sister Mary Ann Flannery, shared, “I got to know Jean through our Band. She offered to do a retreat at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma on the importance of dreams in our spiritual lives. She was wonderful and the participants loved the retreat. She included Celtic spirituality, along with her own experiences in having her dreams analyzed. She had a deep appreciation for the mystical.”
Sister Jean is survived by her sister, Carol Vaughn, and brother, Michael Welling, as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Welling.
The Motherhouse campus remains closed due to COVID precautions, but Sisters will greet a limited number of visitors in the back of the Motherhouse Chapel from 9 – 10 a.m. on Thurs., July 1, 2021, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Motherhouse Chapel of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. Burial will be in the Sisters of Charity cemetery.
Memorials can be made in Sister Jean Welling’s name to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Road, Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051.
The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, whose Motherhouse is located in Delhi Township, a western suburb of Cincinnati, is an apostolic Catholic women’s religious community that exists to carry out the Gospel of Jesus Christ through service and prayer in the world. Sisters, using their professional talents as ministers of education, health care, pastoral and social services, as well as caring for all creation, currently live and minister in 17 U.S. states, in Guatemala, Mexico and the West Indies. They also sponsor institutions to address education, health care and social service needs, with particular concern for direct service to the poor.
The Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati are joined in mission by 208 Associates. Visit the Sisters of Charity Web site at www.srcharitycinti.org.
