Sister Stella Neill

November 11, 1942 to December 7, 2010.
Sister Estella "Stella" Marie Neill, RSM, 68, passed away in a car accident on Tuesday, December 7, 2010. She will be remembered as a pillar of Des Moines, a walking saint, a pioneer, a mentor, the "face of affordable housing" and a great friend. "Help those who need help and do it with passion" is the legacy by which she would want the community to live. As Sister Stella once said, "As a community, we have a commitment to care for one another and to extend that care to the many needs of our world."
Sister Stella attended the College of Saint Mary in Omaha and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science. Following college, she continued her education at the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1974 with a Masters of Social Work.
She began her ministry as a school teacher at All Saints School in Des Moines, Iowa, (1965 to 1968) and then continued at St. Joseph School in Williston, North Dakota, (1968 to 1971). She also directed the religious education programs in those parishes, learning the importance of a parish community.
From 1974 to1980, Sister Stella was Director of the McAuley Bergan Center in Omaha where she directed efforts to provide essential services to assist elderly people to continue to live independently in their own homes. The center grew from an independent corporation with a five member staff of religious women located in an outreach center of a church to a department of Archbishop Bergan Mercy Hospital with a staff of 14 professionals and paraprofessionals. The annual budget increased from $70,000 to $270,000.
In 1980, she moved to Des Moines to help the Bishop Drumm Retirement Center as a consultant analyzing options for the disposition of the former Bishop Drumm facility. She developed admission policies and operational procedures for new apartments for elderly residents.
After one year with Bishop Drumm, Sister Stella served as Director of Planning and Pastoral Councils at the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines. Here she organized and implemented planning processes involving churches throughout the Diocese including improving the structure and management of the Diocese as well.
In 1987, Sister Stella created the nonprofit Anawim Housing, which provides permanent rental homes for low-income families. She was a champion of this organization, the cause and for those less fortunate.
As executive director for Anawim Housing, Sister Stella grew the organization from renovation of a single duplex in 1989 to the development and management of 221 units by 2010. She also developed within Anawim Housing the Shelter Plus Care program, a HUD-funded rental subsidy program through the City of Des Moines Housing Services. Her work included fund development and her expertise in this area helped Anawim Housing flourish. When she left Anawim after 22 years, Sister Stella warned friends not to call it a retirement. She was simply shifting to new missions.
In July, she became the Director of Development for the Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community where she was leading the new integrated fund development function for the Community.
Sister Stella served on the following committees and boards: Omaha Regional Leadership Team-Sisters of Mercy, Community Housing Development Corporation, HOLA Center, Polk County Housing Trust Fund and River Trace Apartments.
Sister Stella is preceded in death by parents Jeanette and Martin Mount; by adoptive parents Charles and Catherine G. Kean; by siblings Eugene, George, Theresa, Martin and Ida; and by nephew Chuck Casey. She is survived by siblings Sharon Neill, Carol Neill Casey, Bob, Paul and Jeanette.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 14, at 7 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral, 607 High Street, in downtown Des Moines.
Memorial contributions can be made to Anawim Housing, 2024 Forest Avenue, Des Moines, or Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund, 7262 Mercy Road, Omaha, NE, 68124.
A giant among us, Sister Stella Neill was tender-hearted, tough-minded and mission-driven. She will be greatly missed by all those whom she touched. Sister Stella's smile, strength and spirit will forever remain in the hearts and minds of family, friends and colleagues. Her legacy will live on and her impact will be felt for generations to come.