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- [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com).
Sr Thomasine Edrich
Birth: 17 Jan 1900 Hoven, Potter County, South Dakota, USA
Death: 9 Aug 1998 (aged 98) Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota, USA
Burial: Benedictine Convent Cemetery, Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota, USA
Memorial #: 101040366
Bio: SISTER MARY THOMASINE EDRICH, OSBHelen Edrich, one of nine children, five of whom died in infancy, was born on Jan 17, 1900 near Hoven, Potter Co., South Dakota. The family farm was two miles west of Hoven and was the scene of a very happy childhood with a brother, George, who was two years older. In 1908, when Helen was 8 years old, farm work became almost impossible for her father who suffered from severe attacks of rheumatism. He moved the family to Hoven and bought a hardware store. Helen missed the buggy rides to Church, the bluebells in the pasture in the spring, the chickens that were so obedient when she called - in short Helen truly missed the farm. Before leaving for the convent on August 3, 1915, at the age of fifteen, the family had grown to include a brother, Frank, and a sister, Mary. In her autobiography Sister Thomasine wrote, "As he (Frank) grew up, I think I lost confidence in my stability, for when he was seven I left Hoven to join the Benedictine Sisters, in Yankton. Frank refused to say "Good-bye to me with the words; "You will be back in three days anyhow". She also wrote "as a youngster I believe Mary was rather self-sufficient when she bade me "Good-bye, after a visit here in Yankton, she added: "You just stay here Lena. We do not need you at home. "Wasn't that telling me?"In 1922, Sister Thomasine began her long and fruitful 48-year career in high school teaching and principal ship. Her ministry included fourteen years at Holy Trinity/Cedar Catholic High School. In her autobiography she wrote, "from 1951-1965 I continued the battle front at Holy Trinity High School, later known as Cedar Catholic High School. My classes had alway been small. To walk into a classroom with close to forty students, even more in a few cases, was breath taking. But this was no situation for self pity, for the students were up and doing in all kinds of way. Everything showed up in the classroom, from books to mothballs and water guns. My goal was not to keep ahead of the sudents, but merely to keep up with them. However my classes in Chemistry, Latin, and Mathematics proved interesting and rewarding. Convent-wise I was laundress, a relaxing task after a day in the classroom."After retiring from full-time teaching in 1970, Sister Thomosine continued serving in a variety of tasks at the monastery and college; business office, vestment department, infirmary organist and mailroom, teaching part-time at Mount Marty College and managing the curriculum library at the college. Sister Thomasine made her profession as a Benedictine Sister on Aug 28, 1919. In 1969 she, along with the original 10 movitiates, celebrated her golden jubilee. In 1994, her 75th anniversary of profession, Sister Thomasine, 98 died in the Sacred Heart Monastery infirmary on Sunday Aug 9th, 1998, after nearly 79 years of service to her community.Sister Thomasine was a woman with a dry sense of humor and wit. She ended her autobiography with these words: "Life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided that when I finish the race I have carried out the mission Lord Jesus gave me."I, as one of her students while she was at Holy Trinity High School, have wonderful memories of Sister Thomasine. She was truly one of a kind, she was a terrific teacher. My educational experience at Holy Trinity was made complete by the time I spent in Sister Thomasine's classes.She was truly a great teacher, a person of principal, and a credit to the Benedictine Order.
Created by: KVJT (47353882)
Added: 20 Nov 2012
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101040366
Citation: Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 May 2018), memorial page for Sr Thomasine Edrich (17 Jan 1900?9 Aug 1998), Find A Grave Memorial no. 101040366, citing Benedictine Convent Cemetery, Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota, USA ; Maintained by KVJT (contributor 47353882) .
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1900 - 1998 (98 years)