SISTER EVANGELINE ENGEL

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SISTER EVANGELINE (ALBINA) ENGEL, O.S.B. On Sunday October 26, 2003, Sister Evangeline Engel died peacefully at 7:30 a.m. at St. Benedicts Monastery. She was in her 76th year of monastic profession. Sister Evangeline was born on May 11, 1904 in Mundare, AB to Joseph and Sophie (Lesniak) Engel. She was the fifth born of ten children. Her parents had emigrated from Europe and settled in the farming area of Mundare. Sr. Evangelines highly devout family kept their faith alive through prayer in the home and outreach to the missionary priests who visited Mundare as a stop on their circuit. It was Fr. Anthony Sylla, one of the Polish Oblate missionaries, who influenced Sister Evangeline in her life choice. Sister Evangeline entered the Benedictine Sisters in Arborg, MB on September 2, 1926 and made her monastic profession on September 2, 1928. Throughout her religious life Sister Evangeline was most faithful to community prayer and had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The prayer of the rosary was her life long companion. Through short in stature, Sister Evangeline possessed great personal physical strength. She was very determined in her ways and loved orderliness. She was never one to shy away from any labour, especially if it was out of doors. Early in her religious life her mechanical skill became evident and was quickly put to use driving the old Ford over rough roads. She became the personal chauffeur of the founding Prioress, Mother Veronica, about whom she spoke with great fondness. Sr. Evangeline maintained her chauffeuring role into advanced age, always available and willing to drive the Sisters for appointments or long distances in any kind of weather. Sr. Evangeline firmly believed in and lived the motto of St. Benedicts Rule-Ora et Labora-pray and work. She was always ready to assist with any type of farm work in Arborg such as extracting honey from honeycombs, caring for the animals, driving the tractor, doing the ploughing or gardening. Gardening remained her great love, especially in her later years. She was often seen tending her little plot of tomatoes or cleaning up around the edges of the lawn. She was keenly interested in world events, being informed of community happenings and attended meetings faithfully even when her eyesight and hearing were failing badly. Sr. Evangeline was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Sophie (Lesniak) Engel, and eight siblings, Mary (McArdle), Amelia (Fane), Roberta (Hewko), Casmir, Frank and John Engel, Jean (Tennant) and Emily (Kolody) Gaspar. She is survived by her sister Josephine Kropielnicki; sisters-in-law, Margaret and Helen Engel; nephew Ron (Joyce) Kropielnicki; niece Bernice Kolody all of Vegreville, AB and numerous other nieces and nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews and her faithful friends, Imelda and Jack Savage. The Vigil Service will be held on Tuesday October 28, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Benedicts Monastery Chapel, presided by Sr. Irene Burzynski, Prioress. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday October 29, at 1:00 p.m. presided by Msgr. Louis McCloskey at St. Benedicts Monastery Chapel with interment following in the Monastery cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should family and friends so desire, donations may be made in Sr. Evangelines memory to St. Benedicts Foundation, 225 Masters Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R4A 2A1. The Sisters wish to express gratitude to Drs. A. Kuffel, M. Reda and B. Gorski and the staff of the Monastery Health Centre for their loving care and support of Sister Evangeline. May she rest in peace. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 28, 2003