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
