S. Ethel Sprakel OSB, 86, died Sunday April 18, 2010 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton.

   A wake service will be held Tuesday, April 20th at 7:30 p.m. and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, April 21st at 11 a.m. in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.  Burial will be in the monastery cemetery.

     Bernadine Sprakel was born October 10, 1923 in Crofton, NE to Hubert and Anna (Bogner) Sprakel. She was one of six children in the family.  She attended St. Rose Catholic School and graduated from Crofton High School ranking second in her class.  In her autobiography, she says that she “was a very quiet and prayerful child.”  In high school she began to be afflicted with headaches which she suffered from throughout her life.

   On September 8, 1942, she entered Sacred Heart Monastery and became a novice the following June receiving the name, Ethel.  She made first profession on June 24, 1944 and final profession in 1948. 

   Her ministry included several years of elementary teaching in North and South Dakota and she then did office work at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD for several years.  She also ministered at Madonna in Lincoln, NE; St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall, SD; Mount Marty College; and at the monastery in a variety of areas. 

  S. Ethel loved the changes in the liturgy following Vatican II and felt it was privilege to serve as sacristan and as a lector. She particularly enjoyed ministering to the sick and elderly and being a Eucharistic minister to the Sisters, hospital patients and most of all to shut-ins in the nursing homes.

  In her autobiography S. Ethel wrote that “I want to be remembered as one who prayed and suffered.” She offered up her suffering for the poor and elderly.  She was a woman of deep faith and prayer and one who took pride in being able to serve her sisters, especially the residents of St. Joseph Care Center.

  S. Ethel is survived by her Benedictine community; sisters: Mildred Wootton and Helen Kollars, both of Yankton; sisters-in-law Magdalene and Julie of Crofton; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Eugene and Walde; and sister, MaryAnn.

                                    Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her O Lord,

                                 and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her.

                                                 May She Rest in Peace.