Sister Phyllis Angerer, SNDdeN
July 17, 1929 – August 24, 2025
“Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests.
It believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
(1 Cor. 13 - one of Phyllis’ favorite passages)
Phyllis Louise Angerer was born in Dayton, Ohio, on July 17, 1929, and baptized at the Church of the Resurrection on July 28. She, her younger brother John (Jack), and their parents lived in a middle-class neighborhood in northwest Dayton. Their father, Carl, supported the family as a grocer, while their mother, Margaret Louise Rauthe, kept a loving home. The Angerers never thought twice about the sacrifices necessary to provide both of their children with a solid Catholic education. At Julienne High School, Phyllis came to know, love, and admire the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN). Their spirit of simplicity and charity resonated with her, and she felt called to serve God in Notre Dame. Shortly after graduation in 1947, she and several of her classmates entered the Congregation.
Phyllis and her classmates immersed themselves wholeheartedly in learning to live as an SNDdeN and in preparing for the ministry of teaching. In the Novitiate, she received the name Sister Michael Marie which she kept until 1969. Immediately after her First Profession in 1950, she began teaching in elementary schools in Ohio and at St. Eugene School in Detroit, Michigan. Phyllis loved working with children and was adept at turning a classroom into a place where students and their parents felt at home.
After 15 years of teaching, Phyllis was asked to serve as an elementary school principal, first in Cincinnati and then at St. Eugene School in Detroit. In addition, she served the sisters with whom she lived as their local superior. Phyllis had a gift for building relationships with students, parents, faculty, staff, and the parish priests. These years were challenging. As the influence of Vatican II was being felt, there was tension and many changes both in the Church and in religious life. While deeply engaged in ministries, Phyllis attained two professional degrees: a BS in Education at Our Lady of Cincinnati College (1960) and an MA in Educational Administration at the University of Detroit (1970).
After Phyllis served five years as the principal of St Eugene’s, the school was consolidated with another school. Phyllis then transitioned into ministry to the sick and elderly of the parish. As her sisters in community were gradually missioned elsewhere, Phyllis was the only sister left at St. Eugene. In 1978, because she desired to live with other SNDdeNs, and because she had concerns about her aging mother, she asked to be missioned back to Ohio. At the same time, her ministry with the sick and elderly in the parish had raised Phyllis’ awareness of the critical need of this population who were so underserved, especially in nursing homes.
Upon returning to Cincinnati, Phyllis was quickly employed as the Director of Spiritual Services at Clifton Care Center in Cincinnati, where many of the residents were economically disadvantaged. Phyllis found great joy in this ministry and was appreciated for the loving care with which she related to the residents, their families, and her coworkers. After four years, the Director of the Center resigned. Recognizing Phyllis’ extraordinary administrative skills, the Clifton Care community, of 142 residents and 120 staff, asked Phyllis to become the administrator. To be certified for this new position, Phyllis commuted to The Ohio State University several days a week to obtain a Certificate in Gerontology while continuing her ministry at Clifton Care. Over the next five years, she developed her philosophy of nursing-home care - a model combining a home-like atmosphere with quality professional nursing care. At the time, she did not realize that she was preparing a model which she would later implement for the sisters.
In 1987, the Provincial Team asked Phyllis to leave her beloved Clifton Care Center to serve as the Administrator of the Mount Notre Dame Health Center. After a six-month sabbatical, she used her experience and administrative skills to create a loving home environment for sisters who needed extra care. Phyllis oversaw a growing staff, increased the number of skilled care rooms, added programming to keep Sisters’ bodies and minds active, and provided for social interaction among them. As the new Mount Notre Dame Health Center was being planned and built in 1999-2000, Phyllis’ wisdom and experience were invaluable.
In 2000, Sister Donna Wisowaty was appointed the administrator of the new facility, and Phyllis served as her assistant for 13 years. Stepping back from this ministry offered her new opportunities, one of which was creating and managing the Mount Notre Dame Gift Shop. Its purpose was to serve the sisters who were unable to go out to shop for greeting cards and small gifts. The proceeds of the Gift Shop were used for various Province needs and the sisters’ ministries. As the Gift Shop grew, it became a way for employees and visitors to support the sisters’ good works, especially the Clean Water Project for our sisters in Africa.
Just as Phyllis created homey spaces in schools and nursing homes, she used her gifts creating beautiful living spaces for the sisters, including decorating for the holidays and other community celebrations. She loved cooking, gardening, and many creative arts as well as spending time with others. She was happy to attend a symphony or a play as well as cheer on the Cincinnati Reds and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. She was very grateful for opportunities to travel in the US and to Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England, Ireland, and the Caribbean.
Although Phyllis’ family was geographically spread out, she kept in contact with her brother Jack, sister-in-law Roseann, nieces Christine and Kathleen and nephews Paul and David and their families.
Phyllis indeed had a rich and full life during which she touched so many lives. For Donna Wisowaty, Phyllis was a strong mentor and support and, above all, a good friend, from Donna’s earliest days in Notre Dame to the end of Phyllis’ life. We will remember Phyllis’ welcoming smile and caring presence which made God’s goodness known to all of us.