Sister Aloysia Lundergan, CSC
(June 2, 1914 - November 9, 2009)
Please, join in prayer of thanksgiving for this Sister of the Holy Cross who died on November 9, 2009 in Saint Mary's Convent.
Sister Aloysia was a bright, cheerful person with a ready smile and a delightful laugh, a joy to be around. She was, as the saying goes, "a good community woman," which meant she was supportive and willing to do whatever needed to be done. True to her farming background she took joy in meticulous order, organization and faithfulness to a schedule that was unwavering.
Sister was a deeply spiritual person with an overriding sense of the sacred. After almost 44 years of teaching in the elementary schools of the Midwest, she came to Saint Mary's to work in the sacristy of the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, where she served with devotion and care for over 12 years. Sister Marissa received her sacristan training from Sister Aloysia and says, "She was a very supportive and kind mentor, very thorough in her directions and faithful to each detail of even the smallest task." Sister Aloysia's reverence and love of this ministry was obvious to even the casual observer. Many of the priests who celebrated liturgy in the church became her friends because she was so caring and gracious to them.
Sister's faith and joy in her religious consecration was a natural outgrowth of nurturing by her family. The idea of becoming a religious was supported in her immediate family and in her extended family as well. Few could boast of 10 family members becoming religious: her sister, Sister Rose Agatha, CSC; her brother, Father John Lundergan, CSSp; her cousins; Sister Alban, CSC, Sister Matthias, CSC, Sister Aquin, CSC, Sister Leo Xavier, CSC, and Father Barnabas Lundergen, OSB. She also had an aunt who joined the Sisters of Loretto; and two cousins who were Sisters of Providence--all were products of the faith that obviously was an integral part of their family life. It is easy to imagine Sister's reunion in heaven with all of these dedicated religious family members who will come together to joyously greet her and where they will rejoice with the Lord for all eternity. May Sister rest in peace.
Funeral arrangements for Sister Aloysia are pending.