Sister Karen Zgutowicz

A funeral Mass was celebrated for Sister of Christian Charity Karen Zgutowicz on May 24 in Wilmette, Illinois. Sister Karen died May 19 at Sacred Heart Convent in Wilmette. She was 78 years old.

Diane Zgutowicz was born on June 23, 1943, in Minneapolis. She became a candidate in the Sisters of Christian Charity on June 27, 1961. On Aug. 21, 1962, she was invested and was given the name Sister Karen. Two years later, on Aug. 21, 1964, she made first vows and, on Aug. 15, 1970, pronounced her perpetual vows.

Sister Karen’s first assignment was to St. Vincent Home in St. Louis, where she did kitchen work. She was at St. Augustine Convent in St. Louis for a year (1966-67) assigned to domestic duties, then returned to St. Vincent as the food service director, a position she held until 1975.

After being assigned to Minnesota, then to Wilmette and Chicago, she returned to St. Vincent Home in 1990 to do secretarial work for the teachers. The next year she became the school secretary. At different times, she also served as sacristan and kindergarten aide. In 1998, Sister Karen moved to Good Shepherd Convent in St. Louis. She was a teacher aide at St. Ann School from 1999-2003.

Burial was in Maria Immaculata Cemetery.