Sister Margaret Mary Hellen

DULUTH-- Sister Margaret Mary (Dorothy Lorraine) Hellen, OSB, 78, of St. Scholastica Monastery, died on Monday, Oct. 6, 2003. She entered the Duluth Benedictines in 1949 and made her monastic profession on July 11, 1951. She was in her 52nd year of religious life.

Sister Margaret Mary was born on April 23, 1925, in Fort Ripley, Minn., and attended Brainerd High School. She received a bachelor's degree in elementary education and social studies from the College of St. Scholastica. During her 21 years in elementary education, Sister Margaret Mary taught at St. Thomas Aquinas, International Falls; Holy Name, Wayzata; St. Bridget's, Minneapolis; and Our Lade of Victory, Minneapolis. She also taught summer catechetical classes in Kinmount, Loman, Nett Lake, Northome, Littlefork, Big Falls, Hinckley, Keewatin, Grand Marais and Grand Portage. From 1977 to 1982 she served as librarian at St. Francis School, Brainerd.

After returning to the monastery, Sister Margaret Mary worked in the Community's Spiritual Resource Center and in the laundry.

Sister Margaret Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Bertha Hellen. Besides the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, she is survived by her brothers George, Sonoma, Calif.; Donald, Pillager, Minn.; Gerald, Prescott, Ariz.; her sisters Mildred (Sally) Perry, Brainerd, Marie Porwall, Brainerd; and nephews and nieces.

A wake service will be held Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 at 7 p.m. in the Gathering Space of Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel with Fr. Kevin Gordon, chaplain, presiding. Interment will be in the Gethsemane Cemetery. Memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery are preferred. Arrangements are by Bell Brothers Funeral and Cremation Services, Jarvi-Down Chapel, 925 E. Fourth St.