Benedictine Sister Ann Arceneau, 89, died March 1 at St. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. March 5 in the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph. Burial was in the monastery cemetery.
Sister Ann (Virginia) Arceneau was born Nov. 23, 1929, to Daniel and Catherine (Ehresman) Arceneau in St. Martin. She attended District #125, a country grade school, and St. Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph. She entered St. Benedict’s Monastery on Sept. 6, 1946, was received into the novitiate June 15, 1949, made first profession on July 11, 1950, and perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 1953. She celebrated her golden jubilee in 2000 and 60th anniversary in 2010.
Sister Ann received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in philosophy at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. She served in elementary education in schools throughout central Minnesota, teaching middle grades at Elrosa, Bluffton, Gilman, Sauk Centre and Perham, and serving as both teacher and principal at Perham, New Munich and Freeport. She also served as CCD religious education coordinator at Sauk Centre and Freeport.
On her return to St. Benedict’s Monastery, Sister Ann became a driver for St. Scholastica Convent from 1994 to 2009 and taught religion classes one day a week at Upsala and Elmdale. In her final years, she moved to St. Scholastica Convent and also received care at St. Benedict’s Senior Community.
Sister Ann is survived by the sisters in her Benedictine community, her brother, Valentine, and sisters, Benedictine Sister Modesta (Lorraine) Arceneau, Marcella Eibensteiner and Elizabeth Osendorf. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Leander and Marcellus, and sister, Catherine Hartung.
Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict Retirement Fund.