Loreen Esther Kiskila

Loreen Esther Kiskila (Dufner) was born October 9, 1934 to John N. and Susan (Straub) Dufner. She was raised on the family farm in Muskego Township, Renville County, rural Lansford, North Dakota along with her ten siblings. She attended Muskego #1, the local country school, and then St. Agnes boarding school in Kenmare, ND. It was at St. Agnes that Loreen came to know the Ursuline Sisters, and at the age of 16, she left home and moved to Belleville, IL to join the Ursuline Convent. As Sister Mary Rose (her religious name), she graduated from high school and then attended college where the Ursulines could send her: first, St. Louis University, then Webster College, both in St. Louis, MO, then Ursuline College in Louisville, KY, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.

All of her studies were aimed toward becoming a teacher, and she started her teaching career at Queen of Peace with a combined class of 7th and 8th graders, while also serving as the principal. She then taught high school math to the aspirants, postulants, and novices at the Ursuline Convent, and following that taught 5th-8th grade math at St. James School in Millstadt, IL.

While part of a six-week summer program in San Diego, CA in 1970 as a National Science Foundation grant recipient, she met fellow grant recipient Mike Kiskila, then Brother Daniel Victor Kiskila. They fell in love, decided to leave religious life, and began a year of long distance dating which included many phone calls and letters until Mike moved to St. Louis. Finally, Mike convinced Loreen to move to California with him, where they could live near Mike’s parents, John and Helen Petty, and Loreen’s uncle and aunt, Albert and Edith Dufner, who all lived in Sunnyvale.

Mike and Loreen were married on July 8, 1972 at St. Martin Catholic Church in Sunnyvale, CA, and they enjoyed a road trip honeymoon in the Canadian Rockies, after which they drove through North Dakota so Mike could meet Loreen’s family. Their daughter, Carrie, was born in 1974, and they bought their current home in San Jose, CA that same year. Loreen was a dedicated mom, and not only took care of Carrie but also watched over several neighborhood kids, and their backyard was considered by many kids to be the neighborhood park. After Carrie started school, Loreen volunteered at St. John Vianney school where Carrie was enrolled. She was later hired by the school where she was a math aid for 6th-8th grade until her retirement in 2006. She also tutored kids in math in her home for many years. Loreen was known for her kindness, patience, and ability to teach, working alongside countless students as they gained confidence and improved their math skills.

When she wasn’t working, Loreen enjoyed time with Mike and Carrie as they went on camping trips to the Russian River, trips to North Dakota or Arizona to visit family, and any opportunities where she could find unique stores for shopping. She helped lead Carrie’s Girl Scout troop for several years, lending her positive and creative energy to regular troop gatherings as well as overnight trips, like the campouts in Alum Rock Park and the Santa Cruz mountains. She enjoyed baking - especially her famous chocolate chip cookies, attending Carrie’s sporting events, playing dominoes, and watching her favorite movie, The Sound of Music. She made holidays special, with her homemade Christmas decorations, handsewn Halloween costumes, and birthday parties planned with original and elaborate party games for Carrie and her friends.

After she retired, she volunteered weekly at De Marillac Academy in San Francisco, where Carrie was a middle school teacher. Loreen would ride the BART train an hour away from home, ingredients in tow, to teach a very popular baking elective class. Retirement also allowed her time to do other things she enjoyed, such as going out to lunch with friends, gardening, visiting with her long-time friends and neighbors Ethie, Gail, and Joke, spending time with Carrie and her husband, Chuck, and going on cruises with Mike to Alaska, Panama, Hawaii, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. She also loved the occasional trip to the casino to play the nickel slot machines, and any opportunity to play BINGO. After their granddaughter, Shiloh, was born in 2012, Loreen and Mike would babysit often, spending many hours reading to her, playing with her, attending her games, and enjoying watching her grow up. Throughout her life, her prayer life was very important to her. Parishioners at Saint John Vianney Church in San Jose since 1979, Loreen and Mike were ministers for weekly masses for many years. Loreen served on the Liturgy Board, took very earnestly her role of writing the Prayers of the Faithful for the weekly masses, and spent several years planning the Mass of Remembrance each November.

As her health declined over recent years, she was cared for at home by Mike, and in recent months with the additional help of wonderful hospice workers and in-home caregivers. Loreen was a tremendously loving and generous person who always had a smile for everyone. She loved her family and friends dearly, and never tired of telling them so.

Loreen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Michael Theodore Kiskila; daughter Carrie Ann (Chuck) Davis; granddaughter Shiloh Rose Davis; siblings, Vernita Broderick, Minot, ND, Theresa Bowen, Belleville, IL; in-laws, Sharen Dufner, Minot, ND; Ed Schall, Minot, ND; Karen (Bill) Richardson, Tempe, AZ; Denny DeBret, Novato, CA, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Loreen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Susan; stepmother, Irene; parents-in-law John and Helen; siblings, Marcella (John) Weber, Vergil (Emily) Dufner, Albin (Evelyn) Dufner, Delores (Merle) Routledge, Bill Broderick, Donna (Lynn) Roberts, Melvin (Ava) Dufner, Orville Dufner, Betty Schall, an infant brother, half-sister Agnes Poppler, and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, other relatives, and friends.

The Mass of Resurrection will be held on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:30am at St. John Vianney Church, 4600 Hyland Avenue in San Jose. A reception in the Community Center will immediately follow the Funeral Mass.