Sister Clarice (Estelle) Sevegney O.P.

Sister Clarice Sevegney O.P., 83, passed away at Siena Center, Racine, WI on Saturday July 20, 2024.

Clarice Marie was born January 25, 1941 to Clarence L. and Elizabeth (nee: Moore) Sevegney in Michigamme, MI. On September 14, 1957 she joined the Racine Dominicans and at her reception in 1958 she was given the religious name Sister Estelle. She professed her first vows in 1960 and her final vows in 1966. In 1968 she returned to using her baptismal name, Clarice.

Sister Clarice spent many years in service to others in teaching and also Religious Education of both children and adults as a Director and Consultant. She began her ministry in 1962 at St. Mary, Kenosha. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were St. Mary, Racine; St. Francis Xavier, Merrill; St. Mary Janesville; St. Mary Parish, Burlington; St. Bernard Parish, Appleton; and SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Hortonville. From 1984-1987 she was the Director of the RENEW Program in the diocese of Marquette, MI. In 2007 she began her work of ministry to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. She worked first in Berkeley, CA and later in Racine, WI. Clarice believed that each human person was wonderfully made by God and that we need to enter into relationship with all persons. The uniqueness of each human person whether by race, sexual orientation, gender or in any other way is what makes human beings so beautiful. Diversity is the Holy One’s Gift to us.

Sister Clarice is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates; her sister Virginia (Dale) Korte; her nieces Joan (Brian) and Janet; and friends. She was predeceased by her parents.

A Remembering Service will be at 1pm followed by a Word Service at 2:30pm in the Siena Center Chapel on Friday July 26th. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32. Memorials to the Racine Dominican Mission Outreach have been suggested.

The Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the Supportive Living staff and Hospice Alliance who cared for Sister Clarice at Siena Center.