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Sister Elizabeth Anne Sueltenfuss





1921-2009

Serving as the first female president of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) in San Antonio, Texas, and as one of the first Texas women to lead a university, Sister Elizabeth Anne Sueltenfuss, a Sister of Divine Providence, a pioneer and visionary in the field of education, opened the doors to higher education for thousands of working adults and changed the way universities provide educational services when she introduced OLLU’s Weekend College program in the late 1970s.

Sister Sueltenfuss, who carried the title of OLLU president emerita, died Dec. 19, 2009, at the age of 88.

She was born on April 14, 1921, in San Antonio.

She entered religious life in 1939 and made her profession of vows as a Sister in 1941. She earned a bachelor’s degree in botany and zoology from Our Lady of the Lake and obtained master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

Serving as OLLU’s president from 1978-97, Sister Sueltenfuss brought new life to the campus. She is credited with the development of many of the university’s innovative programs. The Weekend College developed during Sister Sueltenfuss’ presidency was the first program of its kind in South Texas to offer classes in a nontraditional format. Today that program has grown to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in San Antonio, Houston, and Harlingen.

Under the leadership of Sister Sueltenfuss, OLLU’s enrollment grew to 3,000 students, existing facilities were upgraded, and new facilities were built, including the library which is named in Sister’s honor. New academic programs were also added.

Sister’s work in the San Antonio community evidenced her influence far beyond the OLLU campus. She served in key positions in many civic and professional groups, including chair of the executive committee of the Texas Independent College Fund, director and treasurer of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, and director of the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities. She also served as treasurer and executive committee member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, a national organization that began on the OLLU campus during her presidency.

Sister Sueltenfuss is the only member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence to serve as president of OLLU, which was founded by the Sisters and is still sponsored by the congregation.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward L. and Elizabeth Amrein Sueltenfuss; a niece, Pam; and a great-niece, Alisa.

She is survived by her brother, Gerald Sueltenfuss and wife Jerry; nieces Kathryn Rice and husband Jim, and Carolyn McLerran and husband Dr. Paul McLerran; nephews Dr. Paul Sueltenfuss and wife Alice, and Gene Sueltenfuss; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; and the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence.

In lieu of flowers, Sister Sueltenfuss left a request that memorial gifts be made to scholarships at OLLU. Donations may be sent to the Our Lady of the Lake Convent Center, 515 S.W. 24th St., San Antonio, TX 78207.

Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 21, at 6 p.m., and Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Chapel of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

A wake service was held Monday at 7 p.m. in the chapel.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the chapel.

Interment followed in the Providence Cemetery at Our Lady of the Lake University.