Sisterly Love
Of the five Adam and Mary Pick daughters, four entered the Order of Saint Francis for a lifetime commitment of religious life.
Mary entered first in 1922 and became Sr. Bertilda. Josephine followed in 1930 as Sr. Aidan. In 1933 sisters Regina (Jean) and Loretta (twin to Lawrence) joined together as Srs. Marius and Lea.
Mary Catherine Pick (1902-1998) - Sr. Mary Bertilda entered Order of St. Francis Sept. 1922
Regina A. Pick (1908-1987) - Sr. Mary Marius entered Order of St. Francis Jan. 1933
Loretta C. Pick (1910-1995) - Sr. Mary Lea entered Order of St. Francis Jan. 1933
Josephine A. Pick (1911-1961) - Sr. Mary Aidan entered Order of St. Francis Jan. 1930
Summary of the Pick Sisters
Sr. Bertilda (Mary) Pick had been missioned at Sacred Heart, Dubuque; St. Benedict, Hospers; St. Mary’s, Alton. She was a homemaker for her brother, the late Fr. Henry Pick for six years. She retired at Holey Family Hall, Dubuque.
Sr. Marius (Regina) Pick served at Holy Ghost and Immaculate Conception Academy, Dubuque; Briar Cliff College, Sioux City; St. Joseph Convent, Granville; the former Mount St. Bernard Seminary, the Dubuque Archbishop’s residence, and Mount St. Francis, Dubuque.
Sr. Lea (Loretta) Pick was on the nursing staff at the former Sacred Heart Hospital, LeMars; the former Xavier Hospital, Dubuque; St. Mary’s Hospital, Emporia, Kansas; and Holy Family Hall and Mount St. Francis, Dubuque.
Sr. Aidan (Josephine) Pick was an instructor of music at Immaculate Conception Academy, Dubuque; St. John’s School, Stacyville; Bancroft; St. Mary’s School, Waterloo; Briar Cliff College, Sioux City; and St. Mary’s, Remsen.
Excerpts from a Sioux City Journal interview with Mary Pick, mother to the Pick Sisters:
“The Lord always took good care of us. It was hard work, but the Lord has more than rewarded us.”
The Picks lived on a 440-acre farm purchased during the boom days after the first World War, two and a half miles southeast of Alton until they moved to Sioux City.
“It was a great scurry around the house getting seven lunchpails ready and sending them off to school.”
The children packed into a double rig, the older ones taking a turn driving, to St. Mary’s school in Alton.
Mrs. Pick recommends music as a great lifter and entertainment for a home with children.
“We had our own orchestra, not big, but good…Father Ray played the saxophone, Andrew the violin, and Sister Aidan the piano. The star performances were usually after dinner when there was company. Sister Aidan counted it a great victory to get out of kitchen chores by having to entertain at the piano.”
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