Benedictine Sister Dorothy (Perpetua) Heinen died April 18 at Mother of Mercy Care Center in Albany. The Eucharist of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 2, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, with burial in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud, on Thursday, May 1, for a prayer service at 3 p.m. followed by visitation until 4:15 p.m., or for a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Friday, May 2.
The youngest of three children, she was born Oct. 29, 1933, to Hubert and Angela (Zimmer) Heinen in Rogers, Minnesota. She attended grade school at the district school in Rogers and St. Walburga in Fletcher, Minnesota, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Bird Island, Minnesota.
Sister Dorothy entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 12, 1952, and was received into the novitiate as Sister Perpetua June 17, 1953. She made first monastic profession July 11, 1954, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1957. She changed to her baptismal name in 1987. Her golden jubilee was celebrated in 2004 and her 60th in 2014.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with minors in Latin and philosophy from the College of Saint Benedict. Sister Dorothy served as a teacher in elementary education at Pierz, Eden Valley, Albany, Cold Spring and Melrose. She also served at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in the library as well as in health care and housekeeping. In 2005, Sister Dorothy moved to Saint Scholastica Convent and helped in many areas, including the library. In 2018, she moved to Mother of Mercy Care Center in Albany.
Sister Dorothy is survived by her Benedictine community and her nieces, nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents and her two sisters, Margaret Hill and LaVerne (Allen) Mevissen.
Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Outreach Ministries.