Annella Gardner
June 5, 1918 — December 8, 2017
Annella Gardner
A Funeral Mass for Sister Annella Gardner, OSB, age 99, of Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 11, 2017 at Sacred Heart Monastery with Father Damian Dietlein, OSB celebrating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Richardton.
Visitation for Sister Annella will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 10 at Sacred Heart Monastery with a Vigil Service being held at 7:00 p.m.
Early on December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Sister Annella died peacefully at the Richardton Health Center. She died with the same calm, graciousness with which she lived.
Sister Annella (Eileen Mary known as “Effie) was born June 5, 1918, to Elizabeth (McRae) and Charlie Gardner in Sanish, ND, the fifth of eleven children. She was the last living member of her family, but she was cherished by her monastic community, nieces and nephews, and her many friends. She set the record in the Adopt-a-Nun program at Sacred Heart Monastery with six “adoptions” and countless gifts in her honor to the Sacred Heart Benedictine Foundation.
When she applied to join Sacred Heart Convent, then in Garrison, after her high school graduation, she was told to go directly to St. Benedict’s Convent in St. Joseph, MN, where she began her higher education and the beginning of her religious candidacy. She had her postulant formation with others at Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, SD, and came to Garrison to enter her novitiate in June 22, 1938 with five others in her formation class. All six made perpetual profession and lived the fullness of their lives as Sisters. Her only surviving monastic “classmate” is Sister Monica Thome with whom she also shared the exact same birthday, profession date and subsequent jubilees.
Sister Annella was a terrific teacher and administrator. She studied for her BA in Biology, with a minor in Mathematics, at St. Catherine College in St. Paul, MN, and Minot State College, before going summers to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul to earn an MA degree in Secondary Education and Administration. Of course, this while she taught during the school year at St. Leo’s in Minot. During those years, she taught “Science, Math, Aeronautics, English, typing, etc.”
In the early 1960s, while she was “only” the community’s subprioress and Sacred Heart Academy’s principal and a teacher, the Sisters received an invitation from Bogotá, Colombia, to start a school for girls near the one for boys founded by the monks of Assumption Abbey. Because of the community’s long friendship with the monks, it was an opportunity worth pursuing. After the prioress, Sister Anita Soukup, and Sister Annella went for an initial visit, the community was invited to consider the idea. The Sisters responded quite favorably, so in September 1962, four Sisters, with Sister Annella as the coordinator, left to establish Colegio de las Hermanas Benedictines; it later became Colegio Santa Maria, which continues to this day. Very early on in the rocky beginning of this venture, Sister Annella responded with a calm “Fine. From now on I expect anything.” That mantra served her well throughout the years!
Before her departure to Bogotá in 1962, Sister Annella was named to Who’s Who in American women, and while still in Bogotá, she received a Gold Medal from the President of Colombia citing her excellence in education. One of her last—and favorite—honors is her featured inclusion of
The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders.
In 2010, Sister Annella chose to move to the Richardton Health Center. She always spoke highly and gratefully of her caregivers and she never complained of the care she received. Her wise and positive outlook made her a good companion to all, and to her monastic community, a dear Sister. She rests in peace.
Gardner Annella
Burial Date: December 11, 2017
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND
Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 11, 2017, Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton
Vigil Service: 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 10, 2017, Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton
Visitation for Sister Annella will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 10 at Sacred Heart Monastery with a Vigil Service being held at 7:00 p.m.
Early on December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Sister Annella died peacefully at the Richardton Health Center. She died with the same calm, graciousness with which she lived.
Sister Annella (Eileen Mary known as “Effie) was born June 5, 1918, to Elizabeth (McRae) and Charlie Gardner in Sanish, ND, the fifth of eleven children. She was the last living member of her family, but she was cherished by her monastic community, nieces and nephews, and her many friends. She set the record in the Adopt-a-Nun program at Sacred Heart Monastery with six “adoptions” and countless gifts in her honor to the Sacred Heart Benedictine Foundation.
When she applied to join Sacred Heart Convent, then in Garrison, after her high school graduation, she was told to go directly to St. Benedict’s Convent in St. Joseph, MN, where she began her higher education and the beginning of her religious candidacy. She had her postulant formation with others at Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton, SD, and came to Garrison to enter her novitiate in June 22, 1938 with five others in her formation class. All six made perpetual profession and lived the fullness of their lives as Sisters. Her only surviving monastic “classmate” is Sister Monica Thome with whom she also shared the exact same birthday, profession date and subsequent jubilees.
Sister Annella was a terrific teacher and administrator. She studied for her BA in Biology, with a minor in Mathematics, at St. Catherine College in St. Paul, MN, and Minot State College, before going summers to the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul to earn an MA degree in Secondary Education and Administration. Of course, this while she taught during the school year at St. Leo’s in Minot. During those years, she taught “Science, Math, Aeronautics, English, typing, etc.”
In the early 1960s, while she was “only” the community’s subprioress and Sacred Heart Academy’s principal and a teacher, the Sisters received an invitation from Bogotá, Colombia, to start a school for girls near the one for boys founded by the monks of Assumption Abbey. Because of the community’s long friendship with the monks, it was an opportunity worth pursuing. After the prioress, Sister Anita Soukup, and Sister Annella went for an initial visit, the community was invited to consider the idea. The Sisters responded quite favorably, so in September 1962, four Sisters, with Sister Annella as the coordinator, left to establish Colegio de las Hermanas Benedictines; it later became Colegio Santa Maria, which continues to this day. Very early on in the rocky beginning of this venture, Sister Annella responded with a calm “Fine. From now on I expect anything.” That mantra served her well throughout the years!
Before her departure to Bogotá in 1962, Sister Annella was named to Who’s Who in American women, and while still in Bogotá, she received a Gold Medal from the President of Colombia citing her excellence in education. One of her last—and favorite—honors is her featured inclusion of
The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders.
In 2010, Sister Annella chose to move to the Richardton Health Center. She always spoke highly and gratefully of her caregivers and she never complained of the care she received. Her wise and positive outlook made her a good companion to all, and to her monastic community, a dear Sister. She rests in peace.
Gardner Annella
Burial Date: December 11, 2017
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND
Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 11, 2017, Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton
Vigil Service: 7:00 p.m., Sunday, December 10, 2017, Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton
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