In Loving Memory
Sister Cabrini (Margaret) Beauvais, OSB, 92, of St. Scholastica Monastery passed away Sunday, December 4, 2011, at the Monastery.
Born in Freeport, Illinois, on December 23, 1918, she was the daughter of Ruell and Ann Fox) Beauvais. Margaret Beauvais was the second oldest of five children. When she graduated in 1936 from Aquin High School in Freeport, Illinois, she worked for The Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific Railroad in the Duluth office for several years and later in the office at Glass Block for a time. She financially helped her younger siblings to attend the various Benedictine schools in Duluth, and in doing so became acquainted with the Benedictine Sisters.
Eventually, she entered the Duluth Benedictine Community, professing her Triennial Vows, July 11, 1947, and her Perpetual Vows, July 11, 1950. Sister Cabrini received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from The College of St. Scholastica in June, 1953.
She taught first and second grade at St. Thomas School in International Falls, Minnesota from 1947-1951, and at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Phoenix, Arizona from 1953-1955. She returned to St. Scholastica Monastery in 1955, serving as secretary to Mother Martina Hughes until 1958. She was appointed Director of Postulants at the Monastery in 1958 and guided those discerning a religious vocation with wisdom, endless patience, and genuine love until 1966, when she was appointed Subprioress by Mother Martina Hughes.
In 1972 she entered a graduate program in psychology and counseling at UMD. Following her studies she became Director of Continuing Education at The College of St. Scholastica from 1974 to 1976, when she began her position as Director of Religious Education at St. Anthony’s parish in Ely, Minnesota. For 18 years she was responsible for shaping a preschool through ninth grade curriculum to develop the spiritual life of the parish’s children, as well as training the volunteer teachers. She cherished leading children to discover their own lives with God.
Sister Cabrini was called back to St. Scholastica Monastery in 1994 to serve as Interim Director of Initial Formation, a position she filled until the year 2000, when she took a sabbatical leave for one year. Sister Cabrini celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1997 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2007. She began volunteering in the Hospice program at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth in 1994 and continued this ministry for a number of years. She was in her 65th year of monastic profession at the time of her death.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruell and Ann Beauvais, and her brothers Eugene, Arthur and Joseph (Eleanor) Beauvais. In addition to the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by her sister, Patricia Oppelt, her sister-in-law, Rose Beauvais, many devoted nieces, nephews, other relatives, and countless friends.
A wake service was held on Friday, December 9, 2011, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at 7:00 p.m. Visitation from 5:30 until 9 p.m. The Mass of Christian burial with Father Dennis Hoffman presiding, was on Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel. Interment was in Gethsemane Cemetery.