A Place of Belonging

“If the world takes something from us on the one hand, God will give us something on the other.”

St. Louise de Marillac

By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern

In 2025, Peggy Kleiner was recognized for 35 years of dedicated service to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on the Motherhouse environmental services team.

On July 30, Sisters, Associates, and employees gathered to celebrate employee Peggy Kleiner’s retirement after 36 years of dedicated service to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati as an Environmental Services floor technician.

If you ask Peggy, she’ll tell you she never imagined spending the majority of her career working down the street from her childhood parish, St. Dominic, where she was first introduced to the Sisters of Charity as a grade school student before transferring to the Oak Hills School District.

Growing up and still living in Delhi alongside her sister and fellow Sisters of Charity employee, Nancy Witschger, Peggy first joined the Community as a part-time dishwasher before moving into a full-time role on the Environmental Services team. What began as a convenient place to work soon became a place where she found a deep sense of belonging.

“I have to thank everyone for all the prayers and help to do certain things,” Peggy explained of her gratitude towards her coworkers, fellow Associates, and Sisters. “There’s times I did things wrong, but they’ve all helped me through. It’s nice to have a community here.”

In 2023, Peggy deepened her connection to the Sisters of Charity by becoming an Associate in Mission after years of encouragement from members of the Community. “I had other Sisters trying to get me to make a commitment earlier,” Peggy laughed. “I talked to S. Joyce one time, and next thing I knew, there was an application in my mailbox.”

She decided to complete the application, inspired not only by the Sisters’ gentle persistence but also by the feeling that she had found something more than a workplace. “It’s family more than anything,” Peggy said. “That’s what kept me here.”

The past few years have been especially meaningful for Peggy as she has lived out the Sisters of Charity mission – both as an employee and as an Associate. Her commitment has brought her even closer to the Community and deepened her appreciation for the work she does each day. “I want to clean better for them, because this is their home,” Peggy shared, explaining that becoming part of the Community helped her understand even more the importance of doing her job with care and excellence.

It is the joy and laughter the Sisters have shared with Peggy through stories and encounters that continue to connect her to their mission and “keep me close to Christ.”

As she begins retirement, Peggy plans to remain connected to the Community through her Associate commitment. While she is still discerning what this next chapter may look like, returning to volunteer is already on her mind, along with visiting a friend in California and making use of her Cincinnati Zoo pass.

In retirement, Peggy Kleiner is looking forward to spending more time with her dogs while she discerns what she would like this new chapter to look like.

“You know, I’ve got my sister who works in Activities, and she’s already asking me to come do a few things, though I don’t know when I will,” Peggy shared. “I might take a little time to myself first.”

After reflecting on her career and the many relationships she has built over the past 36 years, Peggy said the most important thing she wants to express is her gratitude. “I just want to thank the Sisters,” she shared.

After so many years united in mission with the Community, there is no doubt Peggy will continue carrying the Sisters of Charity with her into the next phase of her life. “I might be gone,” she said, “but you’ll still see me around!”

The post A Place of Belonging first appeared on Sisters of Charity.