School Sister of St. Francis Ellen Mary Schwaiger, 94, died Sept. 25 at Sacred Heart in Milwaukee.

Born in Milwaukee, Sister Mary Ellen was received into the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1952; made her first profession of vows in 1954; and made her final vows in 1960.

Beginning in 1955, Sister Ellen Mary ministered in Illinois and Wisconsin. In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she was a musician at Alvernia High School (1955-1963) and St. Benedict High School (1963- 1979). In retirement, she ministered through her prayer and presence in Milwaukee from 2019 until her death.