In the spring, when the dogwood blossoms were in bloom, Barbaralie was born in her family home in Frankenstein, Missouri, to August and Gertrude Stiefermann on April 27, 1932. When she left the security of her mother’s womb, she was near death. Dr. Gove told her father that if he wished for her to be baptized, he would need to do so immediately. Without hesitation, her father baptized Barbaralie.
In tears, August went to his mother, who lived with them, and told her that her granddaughter was not expected to survive. His mother consoled him with these words: “Don’t worry, August. She will live and someday be the nun in your family.” This was a secret Barbaralie’s father held in his heart until after she had made her Perpetual Vows in 1958.
Contrary to the advice of her doctor, Barbaralie’s mother gave birth to six girls and one boy, all of whom were born at home, except for the last child, Rosemarie, who was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City and died three days later.
Barbaralie remained grateful that her mother took the risk of having more children. Growing up as the second oldest among her siblings, Margaret, Betty, Theresa, Kathleen, and Charles, was something she considered a blessing. “At an early age, I learned to live in community,” she said. “We learned to share, to be concerned about each other.”
She always cherished the open spaces and freedom of growing up on a farm. The family farm provided numerous opportunities for both excitement and responsibility. Only later did she come to appreciate that work itself was a developmental process that helped her to grow and develop valuable life skills.
The Stiefermann children attended Our Lady Help of Christians School, a public school where the School Sisters of St. Francis taught in full habit. Though there were no other Catholic symbols present, the young sisters stood before the students as the greatest witness of Catholic education.
Barbaralie’s desire to become a sister was sparked primarily by the sisters’ communal lifestyle. Through their example, she saw the joy of living, working, praying, and playing together. As a result, she entered the School Sisters’ Aspirancy on August 28, 1946, and she was received into the Order on June 13, 1950, along with 74 other young women.
Barbaralie was given the name Sister Avellino, a name that served her well during her second teaching assignment at St. Irene Parish in Warrenville, Illinois, where there was a large Italian community. Every Friday evening, the sisters were gifted Italian pastries, pastas, pizzas, and salads by parishioners who thought she was Italian. After months of Italian indulgences, one of the sisters said, “Avellino, tell them you are not Italian!”
Sister Avellino was trained to be a full-time musician, but after her religious profession, Mother Corona Wirfs was in desperate need of a teacher. On the evening before the school year began, Sister Avellino was sent to Holy Redeemer School in Milwaukee to teach 47 first graders. The following year, Mother Corona opened the new mission at St. Irene Parish and again called upon Sister Avellino, this time as a teacher-organist.
Later, as the Order faced a growing need for English teachers, she was sent to Loyola University Chicago to pursue a master’s degree in English and she later earned her doctorate. Her adventuresome spirit, flexibility, and openness to change were distinctive traits, sustained throughout her life.
Sister Barbaralie’s love of learning and ability to inspire others made her a successful teacher, administrator, and campus minister. In her subtle and gentle way, she motivated and challenged her students, stretched their minds, and brought out their best.
In retirement, she served as director of Alfons Gallery for 11 years. Her life was enriched by the work of School Sister artists, as well as the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Fine Arts Society of Milwaukee. “Art invites us to imagine new things and expand our wealth of ideas for dealing with what life presents to us,” she said. “It offers connections to all facets of creation.”
Her passion for history and research became the driving force behind Sister Barbaralie’s retirement writings, which included her autobiography, three biographies, and four additional publications on the history and growth of the School Sisters of St. Francis. These publications are treasures for historians and future generations, and are perhaps her greatest legacy. When asked to sum up her life, Sister Barbaralie responded, “I have loved, I have been loved, and all the rest was background music.”