This page was created as a place for everyone who has been part of our SJA community over the years to come together to reminisce, honor, and celebrate the lives of our beloved and cherished Sisters, Sr. Monica Fumo, SCSJA and Sr. Gabriella Nguyen, SCSJA who were tragically taken from us earlier this year.
Please take a few moments to scroll through our photo gallery of the Sisters, learn more about the SJA Sisters Legacy fund, read through their bios, or see the positive impact they made in the community through published news stories and videos.
“The Sisters made you laugh, cry, work harder, believed in you when no one else did, accepted you for who you are and loved you no matter what. They were a teacher, a friend, a listener, your favorite cook, a confidant, spiritual advisor, life of the party, and comedian extraordinaire. They were always there in person to hold your hand on your brightest and darkest days, to celebrate the victories, the defeats (with a pep talk ready on cue when needed) and to shower you always in their prayers. Anyone who was a part of the Sisters’ lives forever holds a piece of their spirit and love deep inside.”
The Sisters Legacy Fund has been established to continue the work of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida who have served young women at our school for more than 66 years. Over the years, the Sisters’ involvement has ensured the school's main priority has always been to met the needs of our students. Through good times and challenging times, the Sisters have continued their mission of educating and empowering young women from Milwaukee through a Catholic values-based education. Through their selflessness in service and tireless dedication, their ministries live on in the work we do each day in changing the lives of young women through education. Now it is time to honor the past sacrifices and dedication of our Sisters by paying it forward for future generations.
It is the mission of the Fund to maintain the inspirational work of our Sisters for years to come. Through predictable as well as unforeseen challenges, the Sisters were resourceful and creative in making sure that SJA continued to provide an education to the underprivileged young women in Milwaukee. In honor of the Sisters, this Fund will be used for those unforeseen, emergency, or critical needs - the times that may require unbudgeted funds. By having money set aside in reserve, SJA will keep its focus on educating students without being disrupted by emergency needs that may require financial resources to be taken from other programs. The Sisters Legacy Fund, in honor of the life’s work of the Sisters, will ensure we continue to carry on their vision for decades to come.
Honor the past by paying it forward for future generations with a contribution to the Sisters Legacy Fund
To learn more about the lives of Sr. Monica and Sr. Gabriella, read their bios below
Judith Ann Fumo was born to Josephine Passarelli and Henry Fumo in Kenosha, Wisconsin on November 22, 1941. On August 28, 1960, Judy became a postulant with the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida and she received the name Sr. Monica. She began her novitiate on March 25, 1961 and pronounced her perpetual vows at Regina Mundi Convent on August 15, 1970.
Sr. Monica attended Mount Mary College between 1962-1966, earning her BA degree, majoring in French and minoring in music. Sr. Monica completed her studies at Marquette University earning a Master of Arts in Education: Administration and Supervision in 1975.
Sr. Monica served the Community in many leadership positions in the province, in local communities, and on formation teams between 1965-2020. For more than 50 years, Sr. Monica served as teacher, principal, president, and key fundraiser for St. Joan Antida High School. Thanks to her efforts, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program was instituted in 1990 to help parents of middle- and low-income students choose private schools for their child’s education. Her charismatic and down-to-earth personality forged lasting friendships with many students, alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, board and community members.
Between 1998-2020, Sr. Monica lived and ministered at St. Rita Convent and Parish on Milwaukee’s East side and then resided at St. Charles Borromeo Convent where she was involved in parish life and outreach. Her hospitality and generosity were shared with all.
On May 18, 2020, Sr. Monica was born to eternal life. Her Mass of Resurrection will be held on September 19, 2020 and she will be laid to rest by her beloved Sisters and friends.
Maria Nguyen thi Trong (M. Gabrielle) was born on March 29, 1945 in North Vietnam to Nguyen Trung and Nguyen thi Bon. In 1957, at the age of 12, Maria lived and studied with the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida in Savannakhet, Laos. She began her year of postulancy on July 19, 1960 and one year later she became a novice and received the name Sr. Marie Pierre. Sister pronounced perpetual vows in Laos on July 16, 1972.
Between 1962-1975, Sister was an elementary school teacher in Laos. In 1976, one year after the Communist take-over in Laos, Sr. M. Pierre and two other Sisters escaped to Thailand where they lived and ministered in a refugee camp for 13 months. The three Sisters were sponsored by the North American Province of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida. They left Thailand and arrived in Milwaukee, Wis. on October 26, 1977.
Throughout 1978-1982, Sr. Marie Pierre ministered in Amarillo, Texas to refugees from Vietnam and Laos. On February 8, 1984,Sister became a United States citizen and chose a new name: Sr. Gabriella Marie Nguyen.
During the mid-1980's, Sr. Gabriella’s ministry included working with young children at Guardian Angel Nursery and Kindergarten and St. Joan Antida Daycare Center. She also earned a high school diploma from St. Joan Antida High School.
Sr. Gabriella joined the faculty at St. Joan Antida High School in 1989, where she supervised students in many capacities and taught craft classes. She was able to listen to and encourage students to do well and to be their best selves.
The convent at St. Charles Borromeo Parish became her new home in 2006 and she spent her final years there serving this faith community. She endeared herself to the parishioners and brought Holy Communion to the elderly in health care centers near the parish. Her smile, laughter and gentle spirit touched the hearts of all.
Sr. Gabriella was born to eternal life on May 16, 2020. Her Mass of Resurrection will be held on September 19, 2020 and she will be laid to rest by her beloved Sisters and friends.
