Sister Eleanor Ann Beckfelt, OSB, 61, died May 7, 2010, at Solvay Hospice House. She entered the Duluth Benedictine community as an affiliate on March 23, 1978, became a postulant September 8, 1978, entered the novitiate June 24, 1979 and professed her monastic vows July 11, 1980. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee June 19, 2005.
Sister Eleanor Ann was born December 10, 1948, in Duluth, the fourth child of Raymond John Beckfelt and Eleanor Ann (Hoolihan) Beckfelt. She attended St. Helen’s Elementary School in Vero Beach, Florida, and John Carroll High School in Ft. Pierce, Florida. After attending Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, from 1976 to 1977, she became a Licensed Practical Nurse. Later, she took a summer course in art, and was a student in the gerontology program at The College of St. Scholastica.
Sister Eleanor Ann did nursing work on the orthopedic floor at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Duluth, Minnesota. She also worked in the Adult Day Services in the Benedictine Health Center, Duluth, and later in the Special Care Unit in the same facility. In 1990 she became the Program Facilitator and Licensed Practical Nurse at St. Anthony’s Center in Duluth. In 1991 she was assigned as nurse for the Sisters at St. Scholastica Monastery. On her return to the Monastery after a period of providing supportive care for her brother, Reverend John Beckfelt, near River Falls, Wisconsin, she worked in the Spiritual Resource Center and was designated as one of the Sisters on-call. Sister had a strong Marian devotion and enjoyed visiting many Marian shrines overseas.
Sister Eleanor Ann was preceded in death by her parents Raymond John and Eleanor Ann (Hoolihan) Beckfelt, a brother, Jerome Raymond Beckfelt, and her sister, Mary Catherine Pommerville. In addition to the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by her brother, Father John William Beckfelt, special spiritual daughter, AnnMarie Goulet, and many other relatives and friends.
A wake service was held Saturday, May 15, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel in St. Scholastica Monastery. The Mass of Christian Burial followed with Father John Beckfelt and Father William Fider concelebrating. Interment was in Gethsemane Cemetery.