The Cor Unum Award was established to pay tribute to alumnae and alumni who have embraced the philosophy of the Sacred Heart in their everyday lives. The meaning of Cor Unum is “one heart,” taken from the motto of the Society of the Sacred Heart—One Heart and One Mind. In paying tribute to the recipients, we honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the philosophy of the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart alums are renowned for their accomplishments, achievements, and contributions. They are active within their association, at their schools, in their communities, with their families, and many other venues. AASH, each biennium, salutes four of these alums one from each AASH Region, with a Cor Unum Award.

Woman of Conscience

"Woman of Conscience” was the theme of the 28th AASH biennial conference held in New York in 1991, at which a Religious of the Sacred Heart from the host region (East), Sister Joan Kirby, was recognized by the conference committee for her outstanding impact on the lives of others. Since then, the Woman of Conscience Award has been used to honor and thank an outstanding RSCJ in the host region during the conference for her shining example and for the total gift of self in the service of others.

 

 AASH Cor Unum and Woman of Conscience

Honorees 1991 - 2023

 

PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND  2023

Central - Diane Remien Tymick

East -  Rhonda Raffi Meegan

South –  Deborah Newhouse Dunham

West - Mary Forsyth

AASH Courage and Confidence Award - Barbara Gould Henry

Women of Conscience – M. Margaret McDonnell, RSCJ, RN, NP, MA, ThM, D.Hum.Ltrs

Cor Unum Chairperson: Nancy McKenzie

 

DETROIT 2021 (virtual)

Central - Therese Gorman Mayer

East - Bonnie Walsh Stoloski

South – Kathleen Gibbons Favrot

West - Mary (Corky) Treacy Thompson

Women of Conscience – Frances Marion Gimber, RSCJ, & Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Pamela Moore Snyder

 

NEW ORLEANS 2019

Central - Virginia Kratage Antakli 

East - Catherine Ronan Karrels

South – Patricia Dalferes Martin

West - Pamela Moore Snyder 

Women of Conscience – Sharon Karam, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Rosemary Dwyer

 

San Francisco 2017

Central - Roselie Bellanca Posselius

East - Nancy Brouillard McKenzie

South – Mary Noel “Melsy” Adams Saunders

West - Maureen Elliott

Women of Conscience – Barbara Dawson, RSCJ & Mary “Be” Mardel, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Janie Hoffner

 

Boston 2015

Central - Karen Witt German

East - Eugenie "Mimi" O'Hagan

South - Laurie Weiss Nuell

West - Esther Mariassey Kmetty

Woman of Conscience - Gail O’Donnell, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Elizabeth (Betty) Rexford Buckland

 

OMAHA, NEBRASKA 2013

West – Jean Hicks Miller

Central – Rosemary O’Neil

East – Elizabeth (Betty) Buckland

South – Jane Shannon Cannon

Woman of Conscience – Shirley Miller, RSCJ

Janet Erskine Stuart - Jean Bartunek, RSCJ, Carlota Duarte, RSCJ, Jackie Howard, Sisters of

Mercy, Patricia Reiss, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Patricia Eldredge Kolojeski

 

MIAMI, FLORIDA 2011

West – Susan McPherson Lane

Central – Patricia Eldredge Kolojeski

East – Toni Walsh Curry

South – Rosemary Holland Gidionsen

Woman of Conscience – Helen Rosenthal, RSCJ

 Cor Unum Chairperson:  Judy Whalen Conley

 

LOS ANGELES 2009

West – Sandra Bellanca Madigan

Central – Anne Bernet O’Donnell (posthumously) 

South – Olga Seiferth Rome 

East – Judy Whalen Conley

Woman of Conscience – Virginia Rodee, RSCJ

 Cor Unum Chairperson: Patricia Boyd Fullmer

 

NEW YORK CITY 2007

West – Patricia Boyd Fullmer

Central – Barbara Brown Lopiccolo

South - Mary Kay Tracy Farley

East - Rosemary Stuart Dwyer

Woman of Conscience – Joan Magnetti, RSCJ 

Cor Unum Chairperson: Toni Walsh Curry  

 

CHICAGO 2005

West – Janie O’Driscoll Hoffner

Central – Anne Fenech Franco

South – Irene Ernst Mackenroth

East - Mary T. Clark, RSCJ

Woman of Conscience Award - Rosemary Dowd, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Susan Nerney Schumann

 

ST. LOUIS - ST. CHARLES 2003

West - Angel Kraemer Kleinbub

Central - Frances A. Asam

South - Mary Jane Stock Thaman

East - Sally Scott Prince

Woman of Conscience Award - Mary Pat Rives, RSCJ

 Cor Unum Chairperson: Sandy Kiszla Chew 

 

SAN FRANCISCO 2001

West - Rita Chambers Gannon 

Central - Mary Ann Foy Roncker 

South - Corinne Lapeyre Barry

East - Rita Ward Dwyer Scotti

Woman of Conscience Award – All the Religious of the Sacred Heart, in honor of the

Society’s bicentennial

Cor Unum Chairperson: Kiki Corbett Rothing   

 

WASHINGTON, DC 1999

West - Marcelle Eason Amory

Central -Helen Bruns Ryan

South – Patricia Ann Dickmann Sheehan

East - Jane Burke O'Connell

Woman of Conscience Award - Anne Dyer, RSCJ

 Cor Unum Chairperson: Angel Kraemer Kleinbub

 

TROY, MICHIGAN 1997

West - Miriam Drum Gray

Central - Mary Sweeney Oldani

South - Ruth Hogan Tredway

East - Cora McLaughlin, RSCJ

Woman of Conscience: Oonah Ryan, RSCJ

Cor Unum Chairperson: Ellen Gambel Simon

 

HOUSTON 1995

West - Geraldine Ferrara Cattlin

Central - Josephine McGinn Witt

South - Lorraine Nalty Gambel

East - Valerie Moore O'Keeffe

Cor Unum Chairperson: June Rogers Kennedy

 

ARIZONA 1993

West - Virginia McMonagle, RSCJ

Central - Dorothy Loveley Sweeney

South - Joan Walet Hartson

East - Betty Whalen Farrell

Cor Unum Chairperson: Beth Lowry Speck

 

NEW YORK 1991

West - Anita Vellegas Figueredo, M.D.

Central - Carita Corbett Rothing 

South - Adelaide Mahaffey Schlafly

East - Barbara Boggs Sigmund (posthumously)

Woman of Conscience: Joan Kirby, RSCJ

 Cor Unum Chairperson: Colette Byrnes