Sister Lucy Laroe, O.S.B., 1910-2007

Sr. Lucy Laroe

Sister Lucy Laroe, O.S.B., 96, a resident of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at the monastery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the St. Mary Monastery Chapel.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. today at the monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery.  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, is handling arrangements.

Sister Lucy was born Feb. 4, 1910 in Ivesdale, Ill., a daughter of James and Catherine Sloan Laroe.  She attended St. Joseph Grade School in Ivesdale, St. Thomas High School, Philo, Ill., and St. Ambrose University , Davenport.  She entered the Benedictine community August 21, 1929, and made her final profession as a Benedictine sister July 16, 1934.  Her ministry included 50 years as an elementary teacher and/or administrator throughout the Peoria Diocese and included St. Roch’s, LaSalle; St. Anthony’s, Atkinson; Immaculate Conception, Monmouth; St. John’s, Clinton; St. Mary’s, Wenona; St. Joseph’s, Ivesdale; St. Boniface, Peoria,; St. Mary’s, Moline; St. Columba, Chicago; and Holy Family, Peoria.  Sister Lucy did pastoral care at Holy Family Parish, Peoria from 1970 to 1992,

She is survived by her Benedictine sisters, nieces and nephew in the Champaign area, plus many great and great-great-nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister; Margaret Coady; and brothers, James and Dan.