Sister M. Elaine Willett, Osb

Sister Mary Elaine Willett, a member of the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters of Holy Angels Convent for 71 years, died March 28, 2025. She was 85 years old.

Florence Helen was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on January 28, 1940, the third of the five children of the late Joe and Rose (Freppon) Willett. In the first grade at Blessed Sacrament School, she felt inspired by her teacher, Sr. Fridoline, to one day become a Sister, a teacher and a missionary, but she was also inspired to become a nurse like her mother. While attending Holy Angels Academy, she entered the convent in 1954. She made First Vows in 1957 and Final Vows in 1962.

After professing her vows, she spent her first year as a Sister teaching third grade at Our Lady of the Holy Souls School in Little Rock. From there she went on to earn a BS in Nursing, and served for over 20 years in various nursing positions at St Bernards; hospitals in Brinkley, Arkansas and New Iberia, Louisiana; and as a nursing instructor at Arkansas State University. After spending 4 years as a missionary in Mexico, she served as community Formation Directress, and was then asked to help establish a ministry to Hispanics in Northeast Arkansas. In 1997 she founded Hispanic Community Services Center, Inc. (now El Centro Hispano) where she served as Executive Director until 2005. During her years in Hispanic Ministry she served as a translator for many local facilities, including the Jonesboro Police Department, hospitals, and Blessed Sacrament Church and School. She continued to work in Hispanic Ministry at Blessed Sacrament Parish until her retirement in 2016. Sr. Elaine loved visiting with her sisters, family, and friends, listening to music, spiritual reading, and was a talented seamstress.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Rose Marie O’Neill and 2 brothers, Paul and Harold Willett.

She is survived by her Sisters in community; a brother, George Willett; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be at Holy Angels Convent on Tuesday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m., with the Rosary and Night Prayer at 7:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. in the convent chapel, and interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery on the convent grounds.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Holy Angels Convent Retirement Fund, 1699 CR 766, Jonesboro, AR, 72405.