Sister Jean Matteson, O.S.B., 1918-2008

Sr. Jean Matteson, OSB

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 20, for Sister Jean C. Matteson, OSB, at St. Mary Monastery.  Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.

Sister Jean died on Feb. 16, 2008, at St. Mary Monastery.  She was 89.

The daughter of Henry and Emma (Blatz) Matteson, Sister Jean was born on July 2, 1918, in Moline.  She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and St. Mary’s High School, both in Moline, before studying at the Moline Institute of Commerce and the International Accountants Society in Chicago.

She was employed as a secretary, controller, office manager and bookkeeper before entering the Benedictine community on Dec. 2, 1979.  Sister Jean made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on July 26, 1981.

For many of her 30 years of religious life, Sister Jean served in the Diocese of Peoria, using her business skills as a bookkeeper at Immaculate Conception Parish, Carthage; Sacred Heart Parish, Warsaw; St. Mary’s Parish, Hamilton,; and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Nauvoo.  She also was engaged in Pastoral care ministry in Munster, Ind., from 1983-2003.

Sister Jean was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister.  She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters.