Obituary: Benedictine Sister Modesta Arceneau

Benedictine Sister Modesta (Lorraine) Arceneau, 90, died April 2 at St. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. A private Eucharist of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, on April 8 followed by burial in the monastery cemetery.

Lorraine Arceneau was born Dec. 13, 1930, in St. Martin, the third of Daniel and Catherine (Ehresmann) Arceneau’s eight children. She attended District 125 School and received her High School Grade Equivalency from St. Cloud Area Vocational Technical High School in St. Cloud.  Lorraine entered St. Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 18, 1955, was received into the novitiate as Sister Modesta June 19, 1956, made first monastic profession July 11, 1957, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1960. She celebrated her golden jubilee in 2007 and her 60th anniversary of profession in 2017.

Sister Modesta served in food service and as a homemaker in several areas of Minnesota: Long Prairie, New Munich, Miesville, White Earth and Pierz; and in Ogden and Richfield, Utah. She also served for many years in the bakery and kitchen at St. Benedict’s Monastery and as part of the housekeeping team. She was talented at craft work, including embroidery, sewing and quilting. In 2018, Sister Modesta moved to St. Scholastica Convent where she helped in the laundry.

In addition to her Benedictine community, Sister Modesta is survived by her sisters, Marcella Eibensteiner and Elizabeth (Norbert) Osendorf, her sister-in-law, Bernie Arceneau, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Leander, Marcellus and Valentine, her sisters, Benedictine Sister Ann (Virginia) Arceneau, and Catherine Hartung, and her brothers-in-law, Leo Hartung and Frank Eibensteiner.

Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict Outreach Ministries.

Author: The Central Minnesota Catholic

The Central Minnesota Catholic is the magazine for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

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