Music has always been an important part of Sr. Celerine Diekemper's life. Her musical education began with grade school music lessons and continued at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. She went on to help found Holy Family Conservatory in Manitowoc and, through the years, has both taught and written music.

Today, at 93 and celebrating her 75th jubilee in religious life, Sr. Celerine continues making music: playing piano for Holy Family Convent's evening prayers and teaching a weekly piano lesson.

Sr. Celerine has lived with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity nearly all her life.

"My mother died when I wasn't quite two years old," she said. "My father took me, along with my brother and sister, to the convent in West Point, (Neb.). The sisters were so good to me, and they're the ones who got me started in music."

Her first assignment, 75 years ago, was to teach music classes at St. Boniface School in Manitowoc with two other members of her community.

"Students came to us during their study halls and lunch hours," she said. "Soon we had so many children, we needed a house just for music. The convent bought a house in the neighborhood for $15,000, and it is still there." The conservatory is located at 1015 S. 11th Street in Manitowoc.

Sr. Celerine taught at the conservatory for 27 years, then in Zanesville, Ohio, for another 31 years.

"I mostly taught piano, but also violin and other instruments," she says. "After that, I taught in my hometown, West Point, for several years, until I came back here."

Currently, Holy Family Conservatory has an enrollment of 350, who receive private music lessons from beginning through advanced levels, according to Sr. Marcus Steede, who has taught there for 21 years. Its students range in age from children through adults. It offers lessons in piano, strings, woodwinds and brass, and features a string ensemble. About 10,000 students have gone through the conservatory since Sr. Celerine helped found it 75 years ago.

Besides teaching, she composed music over the years. And, she points out quietly, "four pieces were printed."

2001 in The Compass Newspaper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sister Celerine Diekemper, age 94, a Franciscan Sister of Christian
Charity of Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc, died Friday evening, Jan. 24,
2003 at Holy Family Convent, Manitowoc.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003 at
Holy Family Convent Chapel. Officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial
will be Rev. Samuel D. Jadin, O.Praem with burial to follow at Holy
Family Convent Cemetery, Manitowoc.
She was born Dorothy Diekemper in West Point, Neb., daughter of the late
Joseph and Mary Frickenstein Diekemper. Sister Celerine earned a
Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree from Chicago
Conservatory, Chicago, IL. She entered the convent in 1923 and professed
her vows in 1926. Sister Celerine served as a teacher of music at Holy
Family Conservatory, Manitowoc, St. Nicholas, Zanesville, Ohio, and
Guardian Angels, West Point,Neb. She retired to Holy Family Convent in
1984 and has been a resident of St. Rita Health Center at the
Motherhouse since 1996.
Survivors include the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity; nieces,
nephews, other relatives and friends.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003 at Holy Family
Convent, Manitowoc, where a prayer service will be held at 7 p.m.
The Pfeffer Funeral Home & Cremation Care Center, Manitowoc, is
assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Herald Times Reporter, January 26, 2003 P. A3.