Sister Colette Tenley, ASC, of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, died peacefully St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA, November 25, 2024. She was 98 years old and had been a vowed religious for 71 years. (1951-1980 with the Congregation of St. Agnes; September 8, 1982-2024 with the Adorers)
Born on March 2, 1926, and baptized Elizabeth, she was the first of three children born to Oscar and Lucille (Laury) Tenley. She had one half-brother and two half-sisters from her father’s first marriage. In 1951, she made her first profession as a sister of St. Agnes in Fond du Lac, WI. She transferred to the ASC community in 1980, made her first profession as an Adorer on September 8, 1982, and final vows on October 21, 1984.
Elizabeth obtained her RN from St. Agnes School of Nursing in Fond du Lac, WI in 1948. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Education from Marian College in Fond du Lac in 1951. Sister Colette earned her master’s degree in Long Term Care at the Center for Studies, North Texas State University in Denton, TX, in 1980.
Sister Colette’s ministry in nursing began immediately after her first profession. She was Head Nurse at hospitals in Kansas and Wisconsin: St. Anthony in Hays, KS; St. Thomas in Colby, KS; and St. Clare in Monroe, WI. She served as Nursing Instructor at St. Anthony School of Nursing in Hays, and as Director of Nursing at St. Anthony.
From the field of Nursing, she moved into administration for a total of 37 years. For nearly a dozen years she was the administrator of the Henry Boyle Catholic Home in Fond du Lac, WI. After a brief time as a Consultant to the Administrator of St. Anne’s Retirement Community, and Administrator of St. John Rest Home in Victoria, KS, she was appointed Assistant Administrator of St. Anne’s for more than 20 years.
Sister Colette became active in the professional nursing organizations while she was administrator at the Henry Boyle Catholic Home. As president of one of the state’s chapters of the College of Nursing and Home Administrators, she engaged the renowned Elizabeth Kubler-Ross as the keynote speaker for one of their annual meetings.
On the lighter side, Sr. Colette did not let any occasion to celebrate pass by unnoticed. Saturday mornings, for example, found her cooking breakfast for the sisters living at St. Anne’s. On the feast of St. Anne, she stood at the grill and served hotdogs and hamburgers for the picnic celebration, including not only the residents of St. Anne but also those from the motherhouse.
The final eight years of Sr. Colette’s compassionate ministry were in the field of Pastoral Care. She served at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, PA, as Pastoral Associate, including a final year as Pastoral Care volunteer at the hospital.
In a recent interview Sr. Colette was asked what drew her to join the Adorers. She pointed to their prayer life, their dedication, and their motivation for service. She would say to young women who are considering religious life that the role of an Adorer is to help others, to be encouraging, and to dedicate her life to loving.
Sister Colette is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews and members of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, U.S. Region.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Robert (Helen) Tenley and Donald (Helene) Tenley; her half-brother Lilborn (Grace) Tenley, half-sisters Mary Louise (Charles) Scribner and Virginia Ellen (Bill) Oosterhuis.
There will be a sharing of memories via Zoom on Friday, November 29 to celebrate Sr. Colette.
The receiving of the body and viewing will be at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 30 at St. Anne’s Chapel, with the Rosary at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at the Covenant Cemetery in Columbia, PA.
Adorers of the Blood of Christ
United States Region
Donations in memory of Sr. Colette may be sent to the Adorers at 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, or made online at www.adorers.org