Submitted by: Dan Rich

South Bend Tribune 1/16/2000

Sister M. Edmund Beckerich

Nov. 10, 1905 - Jan. 14, 2000

Sister M. Edmund, 94, died on Friday, Jan. 14, at Saint Mary's Convent, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind.

Sister M. Edmund (Agnes Catherine Beckerich) was born on Nov. 10, 1905, to the late Paul and Emma Genard Beckerich. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross at Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind., on Dec. 27, 1922, from South Bend, Ind., and made final profession in the Congregation on Aug. 15, 1928.

Sister M. Edmund is survived by her sisters, Emma Declercq of Largo, Fla., Bernadette Hemphill of LaPorte, Ind.; and by a niece, Maralou R. Johnson of Mishawaka, Ind.

Sister M. Edmund began her teaching ministry in 1924 at Saint Paul's School, New York City. She was an elementary and CCD teacher until 1953 when she moved into secondary education. Her teaching spanned many years and states including Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, Lancaster, Pa., Batavia, N.Y., Riverside, N.J., and South Bend, Ind., at Saint Joseph's High School and Saint Mary's Academy, and then to Saint Mark's Parish in Niles, Mich., where she was Director of Religious Education and Parish CCD. During these years of teaching and being principal of Blessed Sacrament School, Washington, D.C., and Saint Anthony's School, Lancaster, Pa., Sister Edmund went to school herself to obtain her B.A. from Dunbarton College of Holy Cross, Washington, D.C., and did post-graduate work at Canisius College, Buffalo, N.Y., and Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Sister Edmund was an active volunteer at the University of Notre Dame Infirmary, "The Solitude" in Columba Hall on the campus of Notre Dame, and in the nursing homes of Michiana. She spent time in Niles at the Paul Stephan Nursing Home. Then she would visit Michigan Skilled Care and schools and homes in St. Mark's Parish. Her name may not have been known, but the "Lady from ND" was always welcome. In 1982 Sister moved to Rosary Convent and then to Saint Mary's Convent where she joined the Prayer Apostolate, and lived there until her death.

Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, followed by interment at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Ind.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.