The sixth of William and Mary Virtue Jane (Hebert) Cournoyer’s seven children, she was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Her twin brother, George was the fifth child. She moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as a sixth grader and attended St. Patrick’s Grade and High School. She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 10, 1944, and was received into the novitiate June 21, 1945, as Sister Mary Jane. She made her first monastic profession July 11, 1946, and her perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1949. In 1948, Sister Mary Jane volunteered with other sisters to establish Saint Bede Monastery in Eau Claire, transferring back to Saint Benedict’s Monastery in 2010. She celebrated her golden jubilee in 1996, 60th anniversary in 2006 and 75th anniversary in 2021.

Sister Mary Jane earned her bachelor’s degree in education at St. Scholastica College, Duluth, Minnesota., a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and a master’s degree in religious studies from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota. She also attended Bemidji State College, Bemidji, Minnesota and the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.

For 45 years, Sister Mary Jane served as an educator in Watkins, St. Thomas More in La Crosse, Wisconsin, St. Patrick’s in Eau Claire, St. Benedict’s Academy in Altoona, Wisconsin, and St. Patrick’s in Onalaska, Wisconsin, as well as principal and superior in Richland Center, Wisconsin. She then changed careers and worked in pastoral ministry at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, followed by 16 years as chaplain in Oakwood Villa in Altoona. She moved to Saint Scholastica Convent in 2010 and continued to serve in community services and as a companion to the sisters.

Sister Mary Jane is survived by her Benedictine community and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Mildred Gindt and Ruth Fischer, and four brothers, John, Paul, Francis and George.

Please direct memorials to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.

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The third of four children of Willard and Isabelle (Schiferl) Law, she was born Aug. 14, 1952, in Yankton, South Dakota. Sister Carolyn was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls on Aug. 31, 1980. She was a Franciscan Sister for 43 years.

She attended a small rural elementary school and then graduated from Yankton High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, and later a master’s degree from Loyola University, Chicago.

After initial formation and serving at Blessed Sacrament Parish in West Fargo, North Dakota, Sister Carolyn served inVenezuela and Nicaragua. She returned to the States in 1992.

She pursued a graduate degree in counseling psychology and became a licensed clinical professional counselor and a certified bioenergetic therapist. She also served as assistant minster on the Franciscan Sisters’ Leadership team and was treasurer.

Sister Carolyn cared for the environment in big and small ways from leading the campus solar energy project to monitoring blue bird nests. She loved music and was a member of the chorale and orchestras at St. Francis Music Center.

At the time of her 25th jubilee she said, “I am grateful to this Franciscan community for being accepted, loved andnurtured into being more fully who I am. Thanks to all my sisters, friends and family who have been a part of my life and journey.”

Sister Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her siblings: Beth (Bill) Staudenmaier, Denver, Colorado; Tom (Sandi), Branson, Missouri; Phyllis Schwandt, Yankton, South Dakota, and her Franciscan community.

Donations preferred to Franciscan Sisters ministries.

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Christine Hu (Jui-Chiao, her Chinese name) was born Dec. 16, 1932, the second child of Zi-Liang Hu and Liao Shan in Taipei, Taiwan. She had two brothers and one sister. She attended Peng-Lai Grade School and Blessed Imelda’s School in Taipei. Christine entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph April 6, 1953, and was received into the novitiate June 16, 1954, as Sister Telan. She made first monastic profession July 11, 1955, perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1958, and celebrated her golden jubilee July 11, 2005, and her diamond jubilee in 2015.

Sister Telan received a bachelor’s degree in English with minors in biology and philosophy from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph in 1958. At the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, she earned a master’s degree in education with a minor in English. She also studied theology and linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Chinese language at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, Chinese literature at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Stanford University in Stanford, California, expository writing at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, and theology at Saint John’s University in Collegeville.

An educator in many areas, Sister Telan first taught biology at St. Boniface High School in Cold Spring. In Taiwan, she taught at the National Taiwan University, the Junior Nursing College, and National Cheng-Chi University. She then taught Chinese at College of St. Benedict. In 1970, Sister Telan returned to Taiwan as regional superior in Tanshui and taught English at Fu-Jen Catholic University. In 1972, she returned to CSB and taught Chinese, as well as various other subjects, and served as foreign student advisor and as director of the China Study Program. In 2005, Sister Telan retired from teaching at CSB and assisted as hostess for the Haehn Museum and worked for Monastic Enterprises.

Sister Telan is survived by the sisters in her Benedictine community and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Xian-rong and Xian-ging, and her sister and brother-in-law, Jui-pi (Pang-ji) Li.

Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.

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The sixth child of Anthony and Lucy (Martin) Budig, Rita was born Dec. 24, 1934, in Wadena. She had two brothers and five sisters. She attended District #53 Grade School and Wadena Public High School in Wadena. Rita entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 8, 1954, was received into the novitiate as Sister Anthony June 6, 1955, made first monastic profession July 11, 1956, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1959. Sister Rita celebrated her golden jubilee July 11, 2006, and her 60th jubilee in 2016. She returned to her baptismal name in 1968.

Sister Rita earned a bachelor’s degree in business education with minors in economics and secondary education at the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph. She obtained a Minnesota Nursing Home Administrator’s license in 1973 and became a certified retirement housing professional in 1995. She also obtained a Certificate in Spiritual Direction in 2005.

From 1958 until 1973, Sister Rita served at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud in various areas in the business office, as well as supervisor of communications and director of admissions. She was administrator of Assumption Nursing Home in Cold Spring from 1973 to 1977, and administrator of Saint Benedict’s Senior Community Center in St. Cloud from 1977 to 1995. She also served as administrator of Saint Scholastica Convent and Monastic Health Services from 1996 to 2000. Following her career in administration, Sister Rita served on the spiritual ministries staff in hospitality and spiritual direction at Saint Benedict’s Monastery and coordinated their volunteer services.

Sister Rita is survived by members of her Benedictine community, her brother David (Doris), and her sister Carol (+Philip) Tabery, as well as nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sisters-in-law, Bernard (Katherine, Victoria), and sisters and brothers-in-law, Madonna (Raymond) Kern, Cecelia (Sylvester) Heltemes, Iris (Paul, Thomas) Meckel-Nyberg and Genevieve (Thomas) Uselman.

Please direct memorials to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.

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The youngest child of Elmer and Rose (Meyers) Lindblad’s four children, she was born April 7, 1933, in Ashland, Wisconsin. She attended Beaser Grade School in Ashland until the family moved to Bremerton, Washington, in 1940. In 1950, she and her parents moved back to Wisconsin, and she entered Saint Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph, Minnesota, to complete her senior year of high school. She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 2, 1950, was received into the novitiate June 18, 1952, and was given the name Sister Owen. She made first monastic profession July 11, 1953, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1956, celebrated her golden jubilee in 2003 and her 60th anniversary in 2013.

Sister Owen earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in philosophy from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph. She also studied at the Diocesan Teachers’ College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and at St. Cloud University in St. Cloud. She later attended an Upper Midwest Writers’ Conference at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota, which led to her writing career.

As an educator, Sister Owen served in schools in Luxemburg, Greenwald, Pearl Lake, Melrose, Maple Lake, Minnesota, St. Anthony and St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. She was also organist and choir director at Greenwald and Pearl Lake and often helped in other parishes.

In the 1980s, Sister Owen was employed at Creative Concepts in St. Cloud as senior writer for “Escape to Minnesota Good Times” magazine and was a feature writer for St. Benedict’s Center’s “Carousel” magazine. In the late 1990s, she was a history columnist for the “St. Cloud Times.” Sister Owen also wrote for Vocational Biographies in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, and for more than 20 years, she critiqued and edited essays and poetry for a Japanese bilingual writer published in the “Japan Times” and elsewhere. She also wrote and published eight parish or family history books, and in 2000, Sister Owen began working as an assistant in Saint Benedict’s Monastery Archives.

Sister Owen is survived by her Benedictine community, seven nieces and nephews, and her grandnieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brothers and sisters-in-law, Elwood, Jack (Dorothy) and Lyle (Phyllis).

Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.

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The youngest child of Michael and Sophia Rose (Roeder) Lodermeier, she was born Oct. 1, 1933, in St. Joseph, where she attended St. Joseph Grade School and Saint Benedict’s High School. She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery on Sept. 12, 1951, was received into the novitiate as Sister Trinita June 18, 1952, made first monastic profession July 11, 1953, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1956. She reverted to her baptismal name, Theresa, in 1968, celebrated her golden jubilee in 2003 and her 60th anniversary of profession in 2013.

A graduate of the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Sister Theresa received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with minors in English and philosophy. She also attended the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, an institute for RCIA at Saint John’s University, Collegeville, and received a certificate of ministry from the College of Saint Benedict.

Sister Theresa served as an elementary school teacher at St. Paul’s School, St. Cloud, and as teacher and principal at St. John the Baptist in Collegeville. She was teacher, principal and religious education coordinator in the Bahamas at Nassau and Grand Bahamas, where she spent 11 years. Returning to Saint Benedict’s Monastery, she taught at Sts. Peter and Paul Middle School in St. Cloud and taught religion at John XXIII/Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.

She was director of religious education at Holy Family Parish in Belle Prairie, Minnesota, community life coordinator at St. Raphael’s Convent, St. Cloud, took a spiritual renewal program and later opened St. Sophia House of Prayer in Hampton, Minnesota, and served as coordinator of religious education at St. Pius V Parish in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. For several years, Sister Theresa served at St. Mary’s Mission in Red Lake, Minnesota, followed by ministry in the gardens, physical plant, housekeeping and transportation at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. She moved to Saint Scholastica Convent in 2015 and to Saint Benedict’s Senior Community in 2016.

Sister Theresa is survived by the sisters of her Benedictine community and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters-in-law, Virgil (Marietta), William (Beatrice) and Leon (Imelda), and sisters and brothers-in-law, Marcia (Albert) Kuebelbeck, Esther (Earl) Doty, Catherine “Kay” (Othmar) Dierkhising, RoseMarie (Fred) Gleich and Dolores (Francis) Phillips.

Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.

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