Sr. Mariette was born on May 16, 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri to the parents of Dorothy (Vavra) and John
Kalbac. She was the eldest child, followed by 6 brothers: Jack, Ken, Frank, Bill, Ray, and Robert. Her
elementary and high school education was in St. Louis. Her vocational influence came through contact
with our Sisters at St. Anthony Hospital, and the Franciscan Friars with whom she worked as a secretary
when she was in high school.

Sr. Mariette entered our community in Wheaton, IL in 1956. When she was received into the Novitiate,
she received the name of Sr. Dorothiann of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She professed her first Vows
in 1959 and her perpetual Vows in 1964.

Following her education, Sr. Mariette served in various roles, to mention a few: she taught at elementary
and secondary levels; served in parish ministry; served as a representative of Women Religious in the
Joliet Diocese; was Province Secretary; served two 4-year terms of office as Provincial Directress; and
was later trained as a chaplain, working at Marianjoy. Having also been trained as a Literary Tutor, she
tutored immigrant students in ESL (English as a second language) and helped them prepare to become
US citizens.
Sr. Mariette’s life was an expression of her various talents. She shared her gifts and experiences in a
variety of ways. She always had an interest in languages and appreciated the opportunities to meet our
Sisters in other Provinces of the congregation, and to practice her attempts at various languages!
In the last years of her life, when she was cared for at St. Patrick’s Residence, Sr. Mariette formed many
new contacts. Her gracious disposition and smile endeared her to other residents and to the staff who
cared for her.

When asked how she wanted to be remembered, she said: “As a sister companion on the journey through
life, helping and being helped to walk in the footprints of Jesus, as Francis and Clara Pfaender did.” And
so she did!

Sr. Mariette had a deep devotion to our Blessed Mother. Certainly, Mary was there to escort her into
heaven when she breathed her last breath on June 25, 2025.