Sr. Augustine Rael, OSB, 1934-2012
Sister Augustine (Arlinda) Rael O.S.B., 77 of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Saturday May 5, 2012 at the Monastery.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday in the Chapel of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Monastery, where a Christian wake service wiIl be held at 7:00 p.m. Burial is in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan is in charge of arrangements.
Arlinda Rael was born on October 25, 1934 in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, the daughter of Frank and Susan Page Rael. She attended Santa Fe Elementary School, Santa Fe, New Mexico; later graduating from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill., and graduating from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, with a Bachelor’s degree in education.
Sister Augustine entered the Benedictine community on September 1, 1953 and made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on August 24, 1955. Her ministry included teaching at St. John’s School, Bradford, Ill., St. Joseph’s School, Ivesdale, Ill., Immaculate Conception School, Monmouth, Ill., St. Mary’s School, Moline, Ill., St. Columba’s School, Chicago, Ill., Fr. Sweeney, St. Boniface and Holy Family Schools, Peoria, Ill., Saints Peter and Paul and St. Mary’s Academy, both in Nauvoo, Ill. and St. Thomas More, Munster, Ind. In addition she ministered to the Spanish-speaking in Moline.
She is survived by brothers, John and Donald Rael; sisters, Sister Cabrini (Susan) Rael and Thelma Bonney, her Benedictine Sisters; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, 2200-88th Avenue W., Rock Island, Ill. 61201.
Online condolences may be left for the family at http://www.wheelanpressly.com.