Sister Gladys Stanke 

Gladys was born in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, and she moved with her family to nearby Barrington at the age of three, where she grew up with six siblings.

There had been nine children but, tragically, three died very young: one from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and two others, ages two and four, from scarlet fever. Later, her 11-year-old sister was stricken with polio, which left her unable to walk and permanently confined to a wheelchair. Gladys says that her sister’s condition gave her a greater compassion for all people with disabilities.

Amidst these tragedies, Gladys remembers her deeply religious father often repeating, “Our faith will get us through all our difficulties.”

Gladys attended St. Ann School in Barrington, where she first encountered the School Sisters of St. Francis. She loved being around the sisters and helping them, especially Sister Rosalind and Sister Amelberga. Their kindness and friendliness influenced her to consider religious life. After her freshman year of high school, she entered the Aspirancy of the School Sisters of St. Francis. She found great happiness in her formation years, living in community and growing spiritually.

After completing two years in the Novitiate and attending Alverno College in her second year, Sister Gladys was Professed and sent on her first teaching assignment at the elementary level. She immensely enjoyed teaching that age group throughout her years in the classroom, and she learned much from and deeply appreciated teaching children of different races and ethnic backgrounds.

When her 45 years of classroom teaching came to an end, Sister Gladys continued teaching as the lead teacher of three-year-olds at a day care center. She found great satisfaction in being with these little children, and when speaking about this program, she always had wonderful stories to share about the funny and profound things the children would say.

In retirement, Sister Gladys volunteered for 11 years at Waubonsee Community College, assisting students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program and adult basic education courses. Education was always at the heart of her life, whether with children in grade school classrooms or with adults later in life.

Except for a few years, Sister Gladys has always lived and worked in Aurora, Illinois, where she is now retired. Early on, she recognized the richness of the area’s multiculturalism, and she has embraced it as a source of joy and stimulation. Today, Gladys helps fellow tenants in the apartment building where she has lived for 28 years. She also enjoys working on all kinds of puzzles and is an avid reader. She also is grateful that retirement affords her more time for prayer life.

Sister Gladys is proud to be a School Sister of St. Francis and grateful to God for her 70 years in community. Her dream for the future of religious life is to stay open to the movement of the Spirit.

Congratulations, Sister Gladys, on your 70th Jubilee. We thank you for the many ways that you have shared the School Sisters of St. Francis’ ministry and charism with others.