Sister Imelda Lewis, O.S.B., 1898-1982

Sister Imelda Lewis died March 29, 1982 at Burlington Medical Center, Burlington, Iowa.  She was a member of St. Mary Priory, Nauvoo, Illinois.

Velma Lewis was born on June 11, 1898, in Quincy, Illinois, the daughter of Guy and Edith Bell (Mull) Lewis.  She attended the Monmouth, Illinois, Public school from Kindergarten through 10th Grade.  In 1914 she came to St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, and was graduated from there with the Class of 1916.

In August, 1916, Velma entered the community of the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict in Nauvoo, Illinois.  In June, 1917, she received the religious habit and the name of Sister Imelda.  She made her final profession on August 25, 1921, and celebrated her Diamond Jubilee on August 5, 1977.

Sister Imelda attended St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, and the University of Illinois, and received her B.A. degree in Science and Mathematics from De Paul University, Chicago.  Later she earned a M. Ed. In Administration at Loyola University, Chicago. 

For many years Sister Imelda taught in the Catholic elementary schools of Illinois: Champaign, Arlington, Ivesdale, Peoria.  Then she served the following high schools: Moline, Bradford, Nauvoo, Peoria-Spalding, St. Mary’s Academy.  She was retired at the time of her death.

She was preceded in death by her father (1926), her mother (1932), a sister, Norine Assenmacher (1967), and a brother who died in infancy.

A wake service was at 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31.  The funeral was at St. Mary Priory Chapel on Thursday, April 1, at 11:00 a.m. with burial in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery.