Sister Estelle Ternus, O.S.B., 1907-2009

Sister Estelle Ternus O.S.B., 102, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Sunday, May 10, 2009, at the Monastery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the St. Mary Monastery Chapel, Rock Island. Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. W., Rock Island, IL  61201.

Sister Estelle was born on May 1, 1907, in Bradford, Ill., a daughter of Peter and Margaret Finnegan Ternus.

She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill., and received a bachelor’s degree in business from DePaul University, Chicago.  She also received a M.Ed. in education and business from DePaul.

Sister Estelle entered the Benedictine community on June 25, 1926, and made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on Dec. 31, 1927.  She served 41 years as an elementary and secondary teacher and or administrator at Immaculate Conception School, Monmouth; St. Roch’s School, LaSalle; St. Mary’s School, Moline; Spalding Institute, Peoria; and St. Mary’s Academy and Parochial, Nauvoo.  She served for five years as school secretary at St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, and as secretary to three prioresses in Nauvoo for a total of 22 years.

She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters; many cousins and faithful friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister and a brother.