Benedictine Sister Marion (Mary Louise) Sauer

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

St. Joseph, Minn. — Benedictine Sister Marion (Mary Louise) Sauer died Feb. 6, 2014, at St. Benedict’s Senior Community, St. Cloud, Minn. She was 84.

Mary Louise Sauer was born on July 12, 1929, to George and Margaret (Gauer) Sauer in Rice, Minn., the fifth of five children. She attended Rice Public School District #6 and Cathedral High School in St. Cloud. She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery Sept. 12, 1951, was received into the novitiate June 18, 1952, made first monastic profession July 11, 1953, and perpetual monastic profession July 11, 1956.

A graduate of the St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing, Sr. Marion was licensed as a registered nurse. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in nursing administration from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. She also studied at the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, the University of Minnesota (at St. Cloud State) and Weber State College in Ogden, Utah.

Sr. Marion served in health care at St. Cloud Hospital, including serving as head nurse on a medical floor, assistant administrator and director of nursing service, and director of admissions. She also served as director of nursing service at Queen of Peace Hospital, New Prague, Minn., and St. Benedict’s Hospital, Ogden, Utah.

A resident at Saint Scholastica Convent for many years, Sr. Marion served her Sisters in a variety of ways that included responsibility for health care, as receptionist and in a special ministry of prayer and community living.

Sr. Marion is survived by her Benedictine community, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by brothers Wilfred and Norbert, and sisters Eileen Hovanes and Bernice Hiemenz.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 14, at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn. Burial was in the monastery cemetery.

Please direct memorial gifts to the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict Retirement Fund.