Stephanie Turck, CDP

Sister Stephanie Turck, formerly Sister Martha, entered the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963 from St. Elizabeth Church in Granite City, IL, and professed her final vows in 1971. She was most influenced to enter religious life by the Dominican Sisters at Sacred Heart in Granite City. She said, "Sister Renee Lawless, OP, was young, vibrant and talented. It was evident she loved her vocation and teaching ministry. She loved all her students and would do whatever it took for us to learn. She was always there for us, and we knew it. I wanted to be just like her."

Sister Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1975 and a master’s degree in communication disorders in 1981 from Fontbonne College. She also earned a master’s degree in health administration in 1997 and a master’s degree in health care ethics in 2000 from Saint Louis University.

Sister Stephanie’s teaching ministry included the following schools: St. Andrew School in Tipton, MO (1966-68), St. John School in Imperial, MO (1969-70), Divine Providence School in Westchester, IL (1971-72), St. Mary’s School in Brussels, IL (1972-73) and Mount Providence School in Normandy, MO (1975-81). She also worked as a licensed speech pathologist (1981-97), an ethics committee chair and medical staff director at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (now Gateway Regional Medical Center) in Granite City, IL (2000-01, 2002-04), an office manager at United Congregations of Metro East in Madison, IL (2002), a pastoral associate and development director at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (2004-05), a pastoral associate for Tri-City Catholic Ministry (2006-07), volunteer coordinator for Room at the Inn in St. Louis County, MO (2008-12), volunteer coordinator at House of Hope in Cottage Hills, IL (2013-17) and worked for the Generalate in Rhode Island (2017-2023).

Of what is most important to her within the charism of the community, Sister Stephanie said, "As I look around today, I see so many people who feel like they don’t belong, who are confused and struggling with family, jobs and illness and in search of something deeper. My goal is to be present to them in whatever I do, making God’s Providence visible to them."

Self-described as compassionate, caring and hard working, Sister Stephanie enjoys photography, sewing, needlework and being part of the music ministry at St. Elizabeth's in Granite City.

CLICK HERE to make a gift in honor of Sister Stephanie's 60th Jubilee.