Sister Lois Nixon

(Sister Mary John)

Sister Lois grew up in Watseka, Illinois, where her family belonged to St. Edmund Church. Her parents played an active role there, serving on numerous committees and helping with social events. Her father helped with bingo games and cake walks, and even played Santa one year. Her mother had health issues, but that didn’t stop her from working in the kitchen when she was well enough.

Lois went to public school and attended religious education classes which were taught by the Pallotine Missionary Sisters. Lois thought she would join them one day, but that all changed when she was in high school. The parish organist retired and two girls from the parish were sent to Holy Family Academy in Beaverville for organ lessons. They asked if Lois, who could sing, could come with them and permission was granted. Once there, it was discovered that Lois could also play the piano and she too was given the lessons. If you have attended Mass in the chapel at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, chances are that you have heard her play.

Word that Lois was considering a religious vocation reached her parish priest, who served as the confessor for the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary in Beaverville. He in turn told our Sister Anita Marie, who went to speak with Lois and invited her to attend Holy Family Academy for day school. She went. Lois was attracted to the family spirit that she felt at the Academy and, as Sister Lois says, “From then on, it was ‘Good-bye Pollotines; Hello SSCMs!’”.

Lois’ entry into the congregation was delayed a few years due to her need to be at home to assist her invalid mother. Her relationship with Sister Anita Marie, whom she considers her mentor, continued to deepen as they worked together at St. Mary Hospital.

Sister Lois worked in several departments at St. Mary’s, as well as at the two nursing homes in Kankakee that are affiliated with the hospital. She was a Registered Medical Record Administrator. Her favorite position in the hospital was Supervisor of Coding and Abstracting, which involved working with  the discharged patient records. She enjoyed paperwork and medical terminology.

The charism of family spirit that originally attracted Sister Lois is also the driving force in her life as an SSCM. She enjoys domestic duties and, as the Residence Coordinator for St. Mary Community, she enjoyed keeping things running smoothly. She has always been quick to jump to the aid of the other Sisters in any way she could be of help. If you ever had reason to visit St. Mary Community, Sister Lois may well have been the one who welcomed you at the door. That spirit of family love also extended to the needy who came. Sister would help by doing shopping for them and delivering food to them. Sister Lois’ legacy will undoubtedly be her service to her SSCM sisters and her outreach to the poor.

And if you ever come to Our Lady of Peace convent, you will get that same warm welcome from Sister Lois.

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