The Sisters of Notre Dame School confirmed the deaths to CNN affiliate WTMJ, adding that the sisters died due to complications caused by the virus.
“All of our sisters are really important,” Sister Debra Sciano, the provincial leader of the School Sisters of the Central Pacific province of Notre Dame, told the news channel. “Not just for us, but we feel like they’ve touched thousands of lives that we’ll never be aware of.”
The facility was first established as an orphanage, but later became a home for older and sick sisters, according to the School Sisters of Notre Dame website.
The congregation said they have confirmed cases among the sisters living at the facility, but did not release the number of infections, according to affiliate.
He added that the sisters have followed CDC guidelines, including masks, social distancing and regular hand washing, the station reported.
“We have a lot of caution when it comes to eating in the rooms and they can’t get together,” Sciano told the subsidiary. “More tests, doing tests twice a week to detect the virus.”
Among the sisters lost to the virus was Sister Rose Feess, who was known for her “teaching ability, especially her attention to grammar and writing, her faith, her sharp wit, and her love of cats.” , wrote at Notre Dame School in Milwaukee. a post on Facebook.
Another, Sister Lillia Langreck, had been “heavily involved in racial and social justice efforts” for the past 60 years, according to affiliate, including the Milwaukee marches for fairgrounds and integrated buses.
CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.