Sister Benedicta Boeckmann, Osb

Sr. Benedicta Boeckmann, age 96, died at 4:30 a.m. on January 18, 2009 at Holy Angels Convent Infirmary. She was born on June 6, 1912, in St. Elizabeth, Missouri, the fourth child of Ferdinand and Johanna (Dickneite) Boeckmann. At the age of six, the family moved to Knoble, Arkansas, where she attended local public schools, and received religious instructions on Sundays at St. George’s Catholic Church.

She entered Holy Angels Convent at the age of 19 and made First Vows on August 15, 1933. Her first assignment was at Culinary Department at St. John’s Seminary. She also served as Superior at St. John Place in Hot Springs, before being named Directress of the Juniorate for young girls too young to enter the convent.

After serving as Administrator of Consolata Retirement Home in New Iberia, Louisiana, she was elected the 11th Prioress of Holy Angels Convent in 1966 and served in that capacity until 1975. During her tenure, the new Holy Angels Convent was built, north of the city limits of Jonesboro. After serving as superior for three terms, she worked in the Pastoral Care Department of St. Bernard's Medical Center until she retired in 2006.

Visitation and Rosary will be held at Holy Angels Convent Chapel on Tuesday, January 20, at 7:00 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21. Interment will be in Our Lady of Mount Olivet Cemetery on the convent grounds under the direction of Emerson Funeral Home, Jonesboro. Pallbearers will be the Knights of Columbus, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Jonesboro.

For those considering lasting memorials, please consider The Hospice House, 400 East St., Jonesboro, AR 72401.