Sister Barbara Jean Potthast

Sister Barbara Jean was born on March 23, 1939, in South Bend, Indiana, the first of six children born to Joseph Potthast and Helen Therese Radecki Potthast. Because South Bend is so close to Notre Dame, there were always lots of people in the area.

Joseph grew up on a farm in Pierron, Illinois. His family had a strong German heritage. Because he was considered too small to work on the farm, his family urged him to find work in Chicago. On a trip to South Bend, his attention was drawn to a lovely girl who would become his wife. Helen Therese’s family had come to the United States from Poland. Barbara Jean’s brothers and sisters were Richard, John Paul, Charles, Jo Ellen, and Carol Kay. Her brother became Father Richard Potthast, CSC, who worked as a missionary in Uganda, Africa.

With her large family, Barbara Jean had a happy childhood. One of the experiences she remembers is receiving Christmas presents directly from Santa. “Dad dressed up as Santa, but we weren’t supposed to know it was him,” she shared.

She enjoyed the annual trip the family made to visit their grandparents in southern Illinois. After eight hours of travel, it was exciting to see the house and barn from the highway. There were family reunions at the farm and Barbara Jean enjoyed playing with her many cousins. As a city girl, she especially loved getting acquainted with so many animals. She learned to play piano on the instrument she received from her grandmother. At age nine, she was playing Beethoven’s Für Elise.

When she was 14 years old, Barbara Jean became an aspirant at St. Joseph Convent in Milwaukee and attended high school there. Two of her aunts, Sister Mary Estelle and Sister Imelda, were School Sisters of St. Francis missioned in Milwaukee and they suggested that she come and join the community. Ater high school and the years of formation, Barbara Jean was Received in 1956. Every month, the sisters of the class of 1956 meet somewhere to keep in touch with each other.

Sister Barbara Jean began her ministry as a teacher organist. She especially loved teaching the youngest children, and she even opened a kindergarten for five-year-olds. She was delighted with her work as a church musician at many parishes, playing the organ and leading choirs, as well as helping her music students fall in love with music through their lessons on a variety of instruments.

During her lifetime, Sister Barbara Jean has traveled extensively, both for her ministry and for her own growth. Sister has made a list of all the states and countries where she has visited, and they fill two columns on a regular-sized sheet of paper.

Although retiring took some time to get used to, Sister Barbara Jean appreciates living at Sacred Heart and the care and attention she receives there. Opportunities for Mass and prayer are especially meaningful, as are the meals and personal services. She enjoys all the ways that she can continue being a creative person. She is grateful for the sisters who come to retire at Sacred Heart and enjoys interacting with her community.

“All good things come from God,” says Sister Barbara Jean. “May we love one another as God loves all who live and work around us. Every day is new, and we must live it as God planned for us.”