Wall of Fame
In its 90-year history, Villa Joseph Marie has been blessed by the presence of countless remarkable people, who by their hard work and dedication to the Mission of Mother Maria Kaupas, helped Villa become the amazing place it is today. With the introduction of a Wall of Fame, we as a community will give special honor to individuals whose commitment and service to the students of Villa Joseph Marie was particularly extraordinary or to Alumnae whose personal and professional lives exemplify Mother Maria’s challenge: “Always more, Always better, Always with love.”
2022 Inductee: Sr. Regina Marie Dubickas
Sister Regina is loved by all the Sisters of St. Casimir and hundreds of people with whom she came in contact with in the schools she taught at, as a high school guidance counselor at Maria High School, as a psychologist at Michael Reese Hospital and in private practice.
Sister Regina had a gift of connecting with people and caring about them. She knew many, many people and the hundreds of cards, Masses, and donations received after her returning to God is in addition to the hundreds of cards, notes, gifts, and flowers that people sent her as she fought the cancer that was slowly weakening her body but was unable to weaken her spirit.
Sister Regina began serving in Congregational leadership in 1998 and continued on the Leadership Team until her death in 2022, while serving in her second term as General Superior.
In her leadership role, Sister Regina was involved with: Holy Cross Hospital Board of Directors, HCH Catholic Monitoring Committee, Maria High School Board of Directors, Maria Kaupas Center Board of Directors, Southwest Organizing Project, Illinois Catholic Health Association, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Villa Joseph Marie Board, Cluster of Parishes on the Southwest side of Chicago (Deanery V-A). the Mother Maria Kaupas Center in Mount Carmel, PA.
Sister had the ability to think and re-think various issues to arrive at possibilities that would be the best for those involved. She cared about the people who were served by the various ministries that the Sisters were involved in.
It was when Sister Regina was on the Leadership team that the Community was involved in transferring the sponsorship of Holy Cross Hospital and Maria High School as well as discerning that it was time for most of the Sisters to move from the Motherhouse to Franciscan Village in Lemont, IL, and to sell the Motherhouse to Catholic Charities of Chicago. The legacy of the Sisters of St. Casimir continues in each of those places through the ministries that continue to meet the needs of the people in the neighborhood. In the midst of all this, Sister Regina's main concern was for the well-being of all her Sisters. She made phone calls and wrote countless cards and notes to Sisters on their special days or when they were experiencing health issues. When you stopped by her office to drop off something or just to say hello, she stopped whatever she was doing and a conversation began and continued. You were the only one that mattered at that time!
Sister Regina cared about Villa and was on the Board for many years, giving hours to reading, discussing, and evaluating what was best for the students. She missed only being able to participate via Zoom during the last 3 years, but was honored to have one of Villa's crew boats named after her in September 2020. Sister Regina truly enjoyed the Villa Service Trips, meeting the Jems, and getting to know them.
Sr. Elizabeth Ann Yocius, SSC
Sister Regina, along with all the Sisters of Saint Casimir, will always hold a special place in our hearts, for they intimately, right from the start, traveled with our daughter Maria ( VJM Class of ‘21)on a journey of prayer, trust and hope.
Maria and we were blessed to have spent time with Sister Regina at the Motherhouse in Chicago, walk the Legacy Space of Mother Maria Kaupas and pray with the residents in Lamont.
Our Maria joined Mother Maria in heaven on October 8,2020.
In December 2021, my husband and I visited Sister Regina in Chicago. Sister Regina shared with us her closeness to our Maria, praying to her daily, being joined, through her suffering in a very special way.
Today, as you gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Sister Regina, who accomplished much on earth, may you also recognize her greatest achievement accomplished through faith and perseverance with an unshakable trust in our Lord. May her light continue to shine in the hallways of Villa and in each of your hearts this evening.
In thanksgiving for Sister Regina Marie Dubickas.
Maria and we were blessed to have spent time with Sister Regina at the Motherhouse in Chicago, walk the Legacy Space of Mother Maria Kaupas and pray with the residents in Lamont.
Our Maria joined Mother Maria in heaven on October 8,2020.
In December 2021, my husband and I visited Sister Regina in Chicago. Sister Regina shared with us her closeness to our Maria, praying to her daily, being joined, through her suffering in a very special way.
Today, as you gather to celebrate the life and legacy of Sister Regina, who accomplished much on earth, may you also recognize her greatest achievement accomplished through faith and perseverance with an unshakable trust in our Lord. May her light continue to shine in the hallways of Villa and in each of your hearts this evening.
In thanksgiving for Sister Regina Marie Dubickas.
Brian & Susan Middleton
For 115 years the Sisters of St. Casimir and Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM, Scranton) have experienced a strong and loving relationship. During this treasured time we have worked in a variety of ways with the SSC leadership teams and have developed friendships with the SSC sisters.
For the last 20 years we have enjoyed the privilege of working closely with Sister Regina Maria Dubickas, SSC. During that time we heard her speak often of her great affection for Villa Joseph Maria. On occasions when she had the opportunity to brag about you, her face would light up. During her visits to Villa, she was particularly inspired by what she saw firsthand; namely, how students, administrators, teachers, staff and parents lived out the Catholic identity and core values. She believed that it was the commitment to these values that greatly influenced the educational, spiritual, and social culture of the school.
You inspired us, Sister Regina Marie, as you witnessed to and reflected the spirit of Mother Maria Kaupas … “Always more, Always better, Always with love.” We remember you, Sister Regina, with deep affection and gratitude.
Your Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I was so blessed to have the opportunity to get to know Sister Regina and her leadership team over the past few years. What a wonderful, holy woman and joyful presence to all she met.
Sister Grace Surdovel, IHM
Sister Regina was a wonderful friend and leader of her sisters. Her gentle, calm presence was a support and reassuring gift to me and so many others.
Sister Ellen Maroney, IHM
Sister Regina always made my family and I feel welcomed when we got together in PA or Chicago. God's kindness and love shone through her. During my sister's own health concerns, it was a relief to me know that Sister Regina was with her. She is missed terribly.
John Zalot
I so much appreciated Sr. Regina Marie Dubickas's contribution to Villa and my own personal development as a Villa Board member. I pray she is sharing in all of the glories of heaven with our Lord.
Paul Stabile
2022 Induction Ceremony: Sr. Regina Marie Dubickas
An induction ceremony, hosted by the Selection Committee, is held annually in the fall. Inductees, their families, and friends are invited to attend. The 2022 Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held in conjunction with our Casino Night event on Saturday, September 17, 2022. Photos from the event can be viewed at vjmhs.smugmug.com. View the program and Zoom recording below.
Two tributes shared at the event may be difficult to hear on the zoom recording above. Click the links below to view them individually on Villa's YouTube channel.
Interested in learning more about Villa's Wall of Fame and the nomination and selection process? Click the tabs below.
- Past Inductees
- Submit Your Nomination
- Criteria for Nomination to the Wall of Fame
- Nomination & Selection Process
- Selection Committee
Past Inductees
Inductees are invited to attend future Wall of Fame ceremonies and other Villa events. Inductees’ photos and name plates are added to a Wall of Fame display at Villa Joseph Marie.
2021
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Sister Elizabeth Ann Yocius, SSC, Theology Teacher & Department Chair (1983-1992), Member of Villa Joseph Marie Board of Directors & Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Casimir
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Thomas Reardon, Physics Teacher (1997-2004)
2020
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Sister Margaret Petcavage, SSC '52, former Member of Villa Joseph Marie’s Board of Directors and Former Assistant General Superior and Councilor for the Sisters of St. Casimir
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Marie Politowski, Teacher in Villa’s Science Department (1990-2012) and served as Science Department Chair
2019
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Sr. Johanna Marie Shainauskas, SSC, Spanish & Music Teacher (1977-1988)
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Maureen Cleary, Admissions Director & Director of Institutional Advancement (2000-2015)
2018
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Mary T. Michel, First President of Villa Joseph Marie (1993-2015)
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Lizanne McBride '74, Government/Public Policy
2017
- Rev. Casimir P. Sirvaitis, Ph.D., Chaplain/Theology Department Chair (1959-1972)
- Aileen Kevane Alexander '94, Government/Public Policy
2016
- Sr. Agnesine Dering, SSC, Ph.D., Principal (1955-1961)
- Sr. M. Elaine Kuizinas, SSC, Principal (1982-2001)
- Marie Leonard, Latin Teacher (1991-2009)
- Sr. Margaret Zalot, SSC '67, Board of Directors; Former President, Maria High School (Chicago, Ill.)
- Dr. Amy Reed, M.D., Ph.D. '91, Physician
2015
- Sr. Reginald Tamulevich, SSC, Music Teacher (1964-1970)
- Lois Tyburski, Science Teacher & Department Chair (1994-2014)
2014
- Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas, SSC, Foundress of the Sisters of St. Casimir and Villa Joseph Marie
- Sr. Mary Balkus, SSC, Principal (1967-1976)
- Sr. Madeleine Bunevicius, SSC '45, Art Teacher & Department Chair (1968-1994)
- Sr. Bernadette Marie Janus, SSC '52, Board of Directors; Former Principal, St. Bede the Venerable School (Holland, Pa.)
- Lucy Carroll, Registrar/Typing Teacher (1962-1977)
- Nancy Coyle, Basketball Coach/Physical Education & Health Teacher (1969-1978)
- Norma McCauley, Science Teacher (1973-1989)
- Edward O’Connor, Theology Teacher (2001-2010)
- Margaret “Peg” O’Neil Schenk '60, Journalist/Villa Joseph Marie Historian
- Dr. Lucy E. Carroll '64, D.M.A., Musician, Music Instructor & Author
Submit Your Nomination
Criteria for Nomination to the Wall of Fame
- Nominee must be a Sister of St. Casimir; a lay member of the Villa Joseph Marie Faculty, Staff, Administration, or Board; or an Alumna of Villa Joseph Marie.
- Nominee may not be a current student or employee of Villa Joseph Marie.
- Nominees from the Faculty, Staff, or Administration must be retired, no longer working at Villa Joseph Marie, or deceased.
- Nominees from the Faculty, Staff, or Administration must have worked at Villa Joseph Marie for a minimum of five (5) years.
- Alumnae nominees must have graduated in good standing from Villa Joseph Marie a minimum of five (5) years prior to nomination.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
- Nominee must model high standards of excellence in his/her personal and professional conduct that exemplify the Mission of Villa Joseph Marie.
- Nominees from the Faculty, Staff, Administration, or Board must have made significant contributions to the growth and development of Villa Joseph Marie.
- Alumnae nominees must have made noteworthy contributions in their chosen field or in any appropriate areas of endeavor, including religion, education, public service, medicine, law, research, business/entrepreneurial, finance, media, arts/entertainment, philanthropy/volunteerism, military service, athletics, etc.
Nomination & Selection Process
- Any member of the Villa Joseph Marie community—current and former students, staff, parents, and friends—may nominate a candidate for the Wall of Fame.
- A Nomination Form will be posted online. Only nominations submitted via this form will be accepted. If you wish, you may print out the form and forward to: VJM Wall of Fame, Villa Joseph Marie High School, 1180 Holland Road, Holland, PA 18966.
- Up to three (3) Wall of Fame Members will be chosen by the Selection Committee from the pool of nominations submitted each year, with the exception of the inaugural year (2014), in which 10 members were named.
- All nominations will be considered by the Selection Committee and judged according to the criteria outlined above. The Selection Committee reserves the right to name more than three (3) Wall of Fame inductees in a given year or to name no inductees in a given year, based on the quality of the nominations.
- If a nominee is not elected to the Wall of Fame for a particular year, that nominee may be resubmitted in following years, and past nominations may be considered for the current year's selection.
- The nominations and nominee identities shall be held in confidence by the Selection Committee.
- The Selection Committee will announce its selection(s) in The Profiler, on the Villa Joseph Marie website, and on social media.
- The decision of the Selection Committee is final.
Selection Committee
The Wall of Fame Selection Committee is comprised of 8-9 members and all previous Wall of Fame inductees, who are charged with the administration of the program, the review of nominations, the selection of inductees, and the recognition of inductees. Members are:
- Wall of Fame Committee Chair
- President
- Principal
- 3 current Villa Faculty/Staff members (employed by Villa for at least 5 years)
- 3 Villa Alumnae
- Past Villa Wall of Fame inductees
