Sister Maureen CSJ

Sister Maureen Surprenant, CSJ, 94, of Crookston, Minnesota, member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, entered into eternal life on June 6, 2014 at RiverView Hospital in Crookston. Sister Maureen was born July 17, 1919 in Terrebonne, MN to John and Josephine (Bougie) Surprenant of St. Anthony's Parish. Christened Marie Olive 3 days after her birth, she grew up in that thriving rural community and had her first experience of education in a typical country school. She attended high school at St. Joseph's Academy in Crookston, MN where she graduated in May 1936. To become a classroom teacher had been uppermost in Olive's mind, so she lost no time enrolling in the high school teacher training department in Red Lake Falls, MN. With a teaching certificate in hand, she found employment in a rural school from 1937-1939. As much as she liked teaching, Olive felt even more drawn to teach as a religious consecrating her whole life to God. She had witnessed 10 other young women from St. Anthony's Parish become Sisters of St. Joseph; on September 7, 1939, she too entered the Congregation of St. Joseph of Bourg, France. Olive received her initial formation at St. Joseph's Academy in Crookston where a novitiate had been established since travel to the Motherhouse in Bourg, France was out of the question due to World War II. Thus on April 23, 1940, her group was the first to receive the habit and their religious names in Crookston. Olive was given the religious name of Sister Marie Jerome; she made her first profession of vows April 24, 1941. Sister Marie Jerome's first teaching assignment was at St. Canice School, Kilkenny, MN followed by an assignment to St. Louis School in Superior, WI where she also served as school principal and superior of the sisters' community. Other schools served by Sister Marie Jerome over her 47 years in the teaching ministry included: St. Rose, Argyle; St. Joseph's Academy, Crookston; St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis; St. Richard, Richfield; St. Anne's, Somerset, WI. Added to her responsibilities in 1955 was the appointment as community supervisor of schools for the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Crookston Province, a position she held until 1964. Like many other religious women, Sister Marie Jerome received her higher education through years of summer school: a BS degree in education from Viterbo College and later an MA in secondary school administration from the College of St. Thomas. In the early 1960s, Sister Marie Jerome chose to be called Sister Maureen. From 1965 to 1970, she taught Social Studies at Brady High School, West St. Paul, MN. In addition to her active participation in her community and congregation's life, Sister Maureen also served several terms on the Crookston Council of Women Religious. Her high interest in political and social issues never waned and frequently she wrote to congress persons, urging their support of legislation in favor of people who were poor and marginated in our society. Sister Maureen retired to Marywood Residence in 1988 and willingly accepted the responsibilities of sacristan and part-time receptionist. The Summit Apartments became her home in May 2004 when she and 6 other Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille moved there. Sister Maureen's ministry of prayer seemed to intensify during these past years at the Summit Apartments; she often reminded her sisters that she remembered them as she prayed the rosary several times daily. Sister Maureen Surprenant is survived by the members of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph, brother John (Bernie) of Mesa, AZ; sister-in-law Cecile Surprenant, Crookston; brother-in-law, Tim Baril, and many nieces and nephews. Her parents, 2 brothers and 4 sisters preceded her death. The Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Maureen Surprenant will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 14, 2014, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston with The Rev. Vincent Miller, presiding. Visitation will be at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home on Friday from 6-7:00 pm, with a 7:00pm prayer service, and also at the Cathedral for one hour prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Crookston. Memorials may be offered to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 4664 Jamestown Avenue, #125, Baton Rouge, LA 70808-3288.

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, June 13, 2014
Service
Saturday, June 14, 2014
cemetery
Saturday, June 14, 2014