S. Jacqueline Fox OSB, 79, died Friday, October 23, 2009 in the Monastery Care Center.

       A wake service was held Monday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated October 27th at 11 a.m. in Bishop Marty Memorial Chapel.  Fr. James Tiegs was the presider. Burial was in the monastery cemetery.

   Shirley Darlene Fox was born July 31, 1930 in Yankton, SD to John and Myrtle (Hoffman) Fox. She was the tenth of twelve children. She attended Sacred Heart School and Yankton Public School.  She participated in grade and high school band and liked sports including swimming, ice skating, and being a regular member of the neighborhood baseball and football teams.

   The summer after her freshman year in high school she worked with the Benedictine Sisters at Sacred Heart Hospital and with their assistance and guidance became a practicing Catholic after a several year lapse, and felt drawn to religious life by their example.  In the summer of 1948 she entered Sacred Heart Monastery and graduated from Mount Marty High School in 1949.  She became a novice that June and received the name, Jacqueline. She made her first monastic profession in 1950 and final profession in 1953. 

   S. Jacqueline ministered in health care for 50 years.  She graduated from Sacred Heart School of Nursing, and later earned a BS degree in nursing from the College of St. Mary in Omaha, NE and a MA in nursing administration from the University of Iowa. She served as an RN, a nursing instructor and as Director of Nursing.  She taught at Sacred Heart School of Nursing from 1953 to 1963.  She then ministered at St. Thomas More Hospital and Progressive Care Center in Canon City, CO and area long term care facilities for nearly 40 years. She was honored as Employee of the Year in 1980 at St. Thomas More Hospital and as Nurse of the Year by District 21 of the Colorado Nurses Association. She retired to the monastery in 2002.

   S. Jacqueline was known for her sense of humor, her compassion for the elderly, her love of reading, landscaping and of animals, especially her pet dogs.

   S. Jacqueline is survived by her Benedictine community; one brother, Robert (Donna) of Sioux City, IA; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and six sisters.

    Eternal Rest Grant Unto Her O Lord, and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her.

                                                        May She Rest in Peace.