Jubilarians - Wheeling

Sister Eulalia Estep, CSJ
70 Years

Sister Eulalia Estep, a native of Wheeling, entered the Congregation of St. Joseph in 1939. She is a graduate of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, with a BS degree in education, and received her MA degree from Notre Dame University. As an educator and dedicated house parent, she nurtured the children at St. John's Home for Boys and St. Vincent's Home School for a total of twelve years. She served in diocesan elementary and secondary schools in Wheeling, Clarksburg, Huntington, and in Vienna at St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary.

From 1970 until 1982, she provided leadership within her congregation, first as a General Councilor and then President of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling. Subsequently she ministered in health-care as Patient Representative at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston until 2004. Sister now resides at Mount St. Joseph in Wheeling where she engages in prayer and in numerous acts of service.

“Teaching, caring for young people, and health care all have been a blessing for me. I loved and enjoyed every ministry to which I was called. So, it is with gratitude and joy that I celebrate these seventy years of commitment in the Congregation of St. Joseph. Working with the people of West Virginia has been an experience of love. Challenges and joys throughout the years offered many enriching experiences and opportunities for growth and development. Thanks and appreciation to my Congregation of St. Joseph and to the people of West Virginia. You have enriched my life, called me to ministry, and offered support and cooperation throughout these seventy years.”

Sister Eulalia Estep, CSJ

Sister Rita Marie von Berg, CSJ
70 Years

Sister Rita Marie von Berg, a native of Wheeling, entered the Congregation of St. Joseph in 1939. A graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and Wheeling Hospital School of Nursing, she later received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and a Masters in Education from Ohio University in Athens. In the health care field she ministered as a nurse and educator at St. Mary's Hospital in Clarksburg and as Director of Nursing at St. Francis School in Charleston. She provided leadership as Director of the School of Nursing and as Administrator of Wheeling Hospital. From 1964 until 1991, she continued to lead at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg, first as Administrator and then as Chairman of the Board of Directors. From 1989 until 1993, Sister Rita Marie was a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling Leadership Team.

During the 50 years spent in health care ministry, Sister Rita Marie was active in local, state, and national organizations and held several leadership positions. Although these contacts were important to her, Sister Rita Marie describes her best moments during her health care ministry as the times she was able to bring some degree of comfort and caring to the many patients and their families which she encountered over the years.

Sister Rita Marie holds Lifetime Memberships in the American College of Health Care Executives as a Fellow, the Wheeling Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association, and the American Dairy Goat Association. She now resides in Torch, Ohio, is a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church, and continues to contribute her talents within the congregation and throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley area.

Sister Mary Ellen Clark, CSJ
50 Years

A native of New York State, Sister Mary Clark first entered the Newburgh Dominicans in 1959. She received her BS Ed degree from Mount St. Mary College and her MS Ed in Special Education from the College of New Rochelle in New York. Following a three-year transfer process, she professed her vows anew in 1987 as a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling.

Sister Mary came to the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in 1978 and served first through its Office of Religious Education. Subsequently she provided pastoral ministry at St. Peter Parish in Fairmont, St. Patrick Church in West Union, St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Wheeling, and the L'Arche community in Erie, Pennsylvania. Since 1997 she has been engaged in congregational ministries as Director of Vocations and a summer Volunteer Program; Director of Associates and Director of St. Joseph Center in Wheeling. Having completed the Shalem Spiritual Direction Program in 1996, she also provides spiritual companionship to many directees who seek her out for regular spiritual direction or for retreats.