December 1, 1936 – June 3, 2026
Sr. Anne Vandecoevering (also known as Sr. Wilhelmina) was born in Verboort, OR, on December 1, 1936, to William Joseph and Delia Elizabeth (Vandehey) Vandecoevering. She grew up in a strong Catholic family with six brothers and seven sisters and began her elementary education at Visitation, Catholic School in Verboort. She graduated from St. Mary of the Valley Academy (now Valley Catholic High School) in Beaverton in 1954.
Sr. Anne entered the Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon on August 15, 1953, and professed perpetual vows as a religious Sister on August 15, 1958. She celebrated her 70th Jubilee as a consecrated woman religious in 2023.
In her 39 years as a Catholic school educator, Sr. Anne fulfilled the SSMO mission to proclaim the Good News of God’s love with creativity and educational excellence. She had a practical, prayer-filled love of her students. Sister Anne gained her B.A. in Accounting from Marylhurst University (1961). She taught in the Archdiocese of Portland schools at St. Michael (Grand Ronde), St. John the Baptist (Milwaukie), St. Matthew (Hillsboro), Sacred Heart (Tillamook), St. Andrew (Portland), St. Cecilia (Beaverton), Christ the King (Milwaukie), St. Boniface (Sublimity), Our Lady of Sorrows (Portland), St. Mary (Spokane, WA), St. Agatha (Portland), St. Pius X (Portland), and Visitation (Verboort). She was also a great supporter of her blood sisters, Sr. Clare and Sr. Agnes Marie Vandecoevering, SSMO.
The trio of sisters traveled for decades throughout the Pacific Northwest to conduct Religious Vacation Bible School for up to 6 weeks each summer. In addition, Sr. Anne served as treasurer at St. Boniface, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Agatha, St. Andrew, Christ the King, St. Matthew, St. John the Baptist, and Visitation (Verboort). She was also the Motherhouse accountant from 1995 to 2004.
Sr. Anne’s deep relationship with God was nurtured through her sacramental life, prayers, and devotions. During her retirement at the Motherhouse, her faith-filled support and generosity to fellow Catholic Christians — expressed through the gift of religious items, hand-made prayer books and crocheted spiritual medallion prayer necklaces — were especially meaningful.
Sr. Anne passed away on June 3, 2026 at the SSMO Motherhouse. She is survived by her siblings, Sr. Clare and Sr. Agnes Marie Vandecoevering, SSMO, Mary Stadelman, and Minni Krieger, her SSMO Community, numerous nieces and nephews, the SSMO Infirmary caregivers, and many friends. Sr. Anne was preceded in death by her parents, William Joseph and Delia Elizabeth (Vandehey) Vandecoevering, her brothers Albert, Harold, Tom, Edward, Stephen, and Vincent and her sisters Margaret, Agnes, and Theresa.
