Subject was born Mary Sabina Regina, and is the eldest of seven children (two males, five females; two of the latter were stillborn). She was a student at St. Joseph School in Sheffield, Alabama, and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy. She received a B.A. degree from Florence Normal (now known as University of North Alabama) and an M.A. degree in school administration from Clark College in Dubuque, Iowa. She entered the convent (Order of St. Benedict at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, Alabama) on Sept. 8, 1929 and professed her final vows on June 24, 1931. She served as a teacher and administrator throughout her working life; she retired in 1979 and thereafter became a pastoral minister in the Muscle Shoals, Alabama area. (Above information provided December, 2008, by her youngest sister, Sr. Mary Vincent Beckman, OSB).
Sister Cornelia Beckman
Services for Sister Cornelia Beckman, 88, of Sacred Heart Monastery, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2001 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Fr. Thomas O'Conner officiating, with burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She died Thursday, March 15 at Sacred Heart Monastery. She was born April 23, 1913 in Florence to Fred Christian and Mary Barbara Weth Beckman. Sister Cornelia retired after many years of teaching in Alabama and Florida. She was also a pastoral minister in the Muscle Shoals area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Paul Henry Beckman and Arnold Francis Beckman.
Survivors include two sisters, Sister Mary Vincent Beckman and Margaret Mary Geise.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Monastery.
Vespers of the Dead will be held at 5 p.m. followed by visitation at 8 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Monastery.
(Cullman Times; Friday, March 16, 2001)
Sisters Mourn Sr. Cornelia and Sr. Lucy
Sister Cornelia Beckman died early Thursday morning, March 15th at Sacred Heart Monastery after a lengthy illness. Her two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geiss and Sister Mary Vincent Beckman, and many of the Community gathered in her room for prayer led by the prioress, Sister Veronica Ryan.
Father Thomas O'Connor, O.S.B., homilist, celebrated the Eucharist of Resurrection on Saturday. Interment followed in the Community's cemetery, with prayers led by Bishop David Foley, assisted by Sister Veronica.
Born on April 23, 1913, one of five children of Fred C. and Mary B. Beckman, Mary Sabina Regina was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Florence, Alabama. She entered the Sacred Heart Community in 1929, along with seven other young women. Called the "Famous Eight", they were the largest novitiate group in the Community's history until the 1960s.
Sister Cornelia earned her bachelor's degree from Florence State College and her master's from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. An enthusiastic master teacher, she taught in most of the schools started by the Benedictine Sisters: in Elberta, Pensacola, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, Decatur, and Florence. Her last educational mission was as principal of Sacred Heart Elementary School in Cullman, where she led the school to accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It was the first Catholic school in the diocese to be so accredited.
Sister Cornelia embarked on a new ministry, serving as pastoral minister at Our Lady of the Shoals in Tuscumbia from 1979 to 1986. Since she could not drive to visit the sick, Sister pedaled a large tricycle and soon became known throughout the community as the "nun on wheels." So beloved was she that upon her retirement in 1986, the parishioners established in her honor the "Sister Cornelia Society" to continue her pastoral work.
Sister was well known beyond the boundaries of the parish. Active in the establishment of the Tri-Cities Ministerial Association, she served as its secretary-treasurer for some time and helped the group to raise funds for the United Way of Colbert County. In 1985, the Exchange Club of Colbert County honored Sister by entering her name in its "Book of Golden Deeds."
Though she "retired" to the monastery in 1986, she was far from inactive. In addition to being sacristan, she volunteered in the Community's Adultcare Center, usually playing the piano and leading the clients in a "song-fest." For this and other activities, she was one of those cited in 1991 by the United Way of Cullman County "in recognition of outstanding voluntary service."
Among Sister Cornelia's many talents was making counted cross stitched pictures, even when her eyesight grew poor and her hands were crippled with rheumatoid arthritis. Many became gifts for benefactors of the Community; others grace the monastery's parlors, dining room and private areas. Especially notable is a long banner featuring flowers representing each of the monasteries that figured in Sacred Heart Monastery's founding.
Though Sister Cornelia's talents were many and manifest, the Sisters remember her most for her gracious manner, her generous response to everyone with any need, her courage in bearing pain without complaint, her fidelity to prayer and to the Benedictine Community which she loved.
Sister's brothers Paul Henry and Arnold predeceased her, but she is survived by her sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geise of Clark, South Dakota, and Sister Mary Vincent, organist at Sacred Heart Parish in Cullman; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Beckman, in Tuscumbia; and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as grand- and great- nieces and nephews.
(Benedictine Update, Summer, 2001, p. 7)
Sister Cornelia Beckman
Services for Sister Cornelia Beckman, 88, of Sacred Heart Monastery, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2001 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Fr. Thomas O'Conner officiating, with burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She died Thursday, March 15 at Sacred Heart Monastery. She was born April 23, 1913 in Florence to Fred Christian and Mary Barbara Weth Beckman. Sister Cornelia retired after many years of teaching in Alabama and Florida. She was also a pastoral minister in the Muscle Shoals area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Paul Henry Beckman and Arnold Francis Beckman.
Survivors include two sisters, Sister Mary Vincent Beckman and Margaret Mary Geise.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Monastery.
Vespers of the Dead will be held at 5 p.m. followed by visitation at 8 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Monastery.
(Cullman Times; Friday, March 16, 2001)
Sisters Mourn Sr. Cornelia and Sr. Lucy
Sister Cornelia Beckman died early Thursday morning, March 15th at Sacred Heart Monastery after a lengthy illness. Her two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geiss and Sister Mary Vincent Beckman, and many of the Community gathered in her room for prayer led by the prioress, Sister Veronica Ryan.
Father Thomas O'Connor, O.S.B., homilist, celebrated the Eucharist of Resurrection on Saturday. Interment followed in the Community's cemetery, with prayers led by Bishop David Foley, assisted by Sister Veronica.
Born on April 23, 1913, one of five children of Fred C. and Mary B. Beckman, Mary Sabina Regina was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Florence, Alabama. She entered the Sacred Heart Community in 1929, along with seven other young women. Called the "Famous Eight", they were the largest novitiate group in the Community's history until the 1960s.
Sister Cornelia earned her bachelor's degree from Florence State College and her master's from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. An enthusiastic master teacher, she taught in most of the schools started by the Benedictine Sisters: in Elberta, Pensacola, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, Decatur, and Florence. Her last educational mission was as principal of Sacred Heart Elementary School in Cullman, where she led the school to accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It was the first Catholic school in the diocese to be so accredited.
Sister Cornelia embarked on a new ministry, serving as pastoral minister at Our Lady of the Shoals in Tuscumbia from 1979 to 1986. Since she could not drive to visit the sick, Sister pedaled a large tricycle and soon became known throughout the community as the "nun on wheels." So beloved was she that upon her retirement in 1986, the parishioners established in her honor the "Sister Cornelia Society" to continue her pastoral work.
Sister was well known beyond the boundaries of the parish. Active in the establishment of the Tri-Cities Ministerial Association, she served as its secretary-treasurer for some time and helped the group to raise funds for the United Way of Colbert County. In 1985, the Exchange Club of Colbert County honored Sister by entering her name in its "Book of Golden Deeds."
Though she "retired" to the monastery in 1986, she was far from inactive. In addition to being sacristan, she volunteered in the Community's Adultcare Center, usually playing the piano and leading the clients in a "song-fest." For this and other activities, she was one of those cited in 1991 by the United Way of Cullman County "in recognition of outstanding voluntary service."
Among Sister Cornelia's many talents was making counted cross stitched pictures, even when her eyesight grew poor and her hands were crippled with rheumatoid arthritis. Many became gifts for benefactors of the Community; others grace the monastery's parlors, dining room and private areas. Especially notable is a long banner featuring flowers representing each of the monasteries that figured in Sacred Heart Monastery's founding.
Though Sister Cornelia's talents were many and manifest, the Sisters remember her most for her gracious manner, her generous response to everyone with any need, her courage in bearing pain without complaint, her fidelity to prayer and to the Benedictine Community which she loved.
Sister's brothers Paul Henry and Arnold predeceased her, but she is survived by her sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geise of Clark, South Dakota, and Sister Mary Vincent, organist at Sacred Heart Parish in Cullman; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Beckman, in Tuscumbia; and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as grand- and great- nieces and nephews.
(Benedictine Update, Summer, 2001, p. 7)
Subject was born Mary Sabina Regina, and is the eldest of seven children (two males, five females; two of the latter were stillborn). She was a student at St. Joseph School in Sheffield, Alabama, and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy. She received a B.A. degree from Florence Normal (now known as University of North Alabama) and an M.A. degree in school administration from Clark College in Dubuque, Iowa. She entered the convent (Order of St. Benedict at Sacred Heart Monastery, Cullman, Alabama) on Sept. 8, 1929 and professed her final vows on June 24, 1931. She served as a teacher and administrator throughout her working life; she retired in 1979 and thereafter became a pastoral minister in the Muscle Shoals, Alabama area. (Above information provided December, 2008, by her youngest sister, Sr. Mary Vincent Beckman, OSB).
Sister Cornelia Beckman
Services for Sister Cornelia Beckman, 88, of Sacred Heart Monastery, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2001 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Fr. Thomas O'Conner officiating, with burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She died Thursday, March 15 at Sacred Heart Monastery. She was born April 23, 1913 in Florence to Fred Christian and Mary Barbara Weth Beckman. Sister Cornelia retired after many years of teaching in Alabama and Florida. She was also a pastoral minister in the Muscle Shoals area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Paul Henry Beckman and Arnold Francis Beckman.
Survivors include two sisters, Sister Mary Vincent Beckman and Margaret Mary Geise.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Monastery.
Vespers of the Dead will be held at 5 p.m. followed by visitation at 8 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Monastery.
(Cullman Times; Friday, March 16, 2001)
Sisters Mourn Sr. Cornelia and Sr. Lucy
Sister Cornelia Beckman died early Thursday morning, March 15th at Sacred Heart Monastery after a lengthy illness. Her two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geiss and Sister Mary Vincent Beckman, and many of the Community gathered in her room for prayer led by the prioress, Sister Veronica Ryan.
Father Thomas O'Connor, O.S.B., homilist, celebrated the Eucharist of Resurrection on Saturday. Interment followed in the Community's cemetery, with prayers led by Bishop David Foley, assisted by Sister Veronica.
Born on April 23, 1913, one of five children of Fred C. and Mary B. Beckman, Mary Sabina Regina was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Florence, Alabama. She entered the Sacred Heart Community in 1929, along with seven other young women. Called the "Famous Eight", they were the largest novitiate group in the Community's history until the 1960s.
Sister Cornelia earned her bachelor's degree from Florence State College and her master's from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. An enthusiastic master teacher, she taught in most of the schools started by the Benedictine Sisters: in Elberta, Pensacola, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, Decatur, and Florence. Her last educational mission was as principal of Sacred Heart Elementary School in Cullman, where she led the school to accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It was the first Catholic school in the diocese to be so accredited.
Sister Cornelia embarked on a new ministry, serving as pastoral minister at Our Lady of the Shoals in Tuscumbia from 1979 to 1986. Since she could not drive to visit the sick, Sister pedaled a large tricycle and soon became known throughout the community as the "nun on wheels." So beloved was she that upon her retirement in 1986, the parishioners established in her honor the "Sister Cornelia Society" to continue her pastoral work.
Sister was well known beyond the boundaries of the parish. Active in the establishment of the Tri-Cities Ministerial Association, she served as its secretary-treasurer for some time and helped the group to raise funds for the United Way of Colbert County. In 1985, the Exchange Club of Colbert County honored Sister by entering her name in its "Book of Golden Deeds."
Though she "retired" to the monastery in 1986, she was far from inactive. In addition to being sacristan, she volunteered in the Community's Adultcare Center, usually playing the piano and leading the clients in a "song-fest." For this and other activities, she was one of those cited in 1991 by the United Way of Cullman County "in recognition of outstanding voluntary service."
Among Sister Cornelia's many talents was making counted cross stitched pictures, even when her eyesight grew poor and her hands were crippled with rheumatoid arthritis. Many became gifts for benefactors of the Community; others grace the monastery's parlors, dining room and private areas. Especially notable is a long banner featuring flowers representing each of the monasteries that figured in Sacred Heart Monastery's founding.
Though Sister Cornelia's talents were many and manifest, the Sisters remember her most for her gracious manner, her generous response to everyone with any need, her courage in bearing pain without complaint, her fidelity to prayer and to the Benedictine Community which she loved.
Sister's brothers Paul Henry and Arnold predeceased her, but she is survived by her sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geise of Clark, South Dakota, and Sister Mary Vincent, organist at Sacred Heart Parish in Cullman; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Beckman, in Tuscumbia; and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as grand- and great- nieces and nephews.
(Benedictine Update, Summer, 2001, p. 7)
Sister Cornelia Beckman
Services for Sister Cornelia Beckman, 88, of Sacred Heart Monastery, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2001 at Sacred Heart Monastery, Fr. Thomas O'Conner officiating, with burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
She died Thursday, March 15 at Sacred Heart Monastery. She was born April 23, 1913 in Florence to Fred Christian and Mary Barbara Weth Beckman. Sister Cornelia retired after many years of teaching in Alabama and Florida. She was also a pastoral minister in the Muscle Shoals area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and two brothers, Paul Henry Beckman and Arnold Francis Beckman.
Survivors include two sisters, Sister Mary Vincent Beckman and Margaret Mary Geise.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Monastery.
Vespers of the Dead will be held at 5 p.m. followed by visitation at 8 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Monastery.
(Cullman Times; Friday, March 16, 2001)
Sisters Mourn Sr. Cornelia and Sr. Lucy
Sister Cornelia Beckman died early Thursday morning, March 15th at Sacred Heart Monastery after a lengthy illness. Her two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geiss and Sister Mary Vincent Beckman, and many of the Community gathered in her room for prayer led by the prioress, Sister Veronica Ryan.
Father Thomas O'Connor, O.S.B., homilist, celebrated the Eucharist of Resurrection on Saturday. Interment followed in the Community's cemetery, with prayers led by Bishop David Foley, assisted by Sister Veronica.
Born on April 23, 1913, one of five children of Fred C. and Mary B. Beckman, Mary Sabina Regina was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Florence, Alabama. She entered the Sacred Heart Community in 1929, along with seven other young women. Called the "Famous Eight", they were the largest novitiate group in the Community's history until the 1960s.
Sister Cornelia earned her bachelor's degree from Florence State College and her master's from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. An enthusiastic master teacher, she taught in most of the schools started by the Benedictine Sisters: in Elberta, Pensacola, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Cullman, Decatur, and Florence. Her last educational mission was as principal of Sacred Heart Elementary School in Cullman, where she led the school to accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It was the first Catholic school in the diocese to be so accredited.
Sister Cornelia embarked on a new ministry, serving as pastoral minister at Our Lady of the Shoals in Tuscumbia from 1979 to 1986. Since she could not drive to visit the sick, Sister pedaled a large tricycle and soon became known throughout the community as the "nun on wheels." So beloved was she that upon her retirement in 1986, the parishioners established in her honor the "Sister Cornelia Society" to continue her pastoral work.
Sister was well known beyond the boundaries of the parish. Active in the establishment of the Tri-Cities Ministerial Association, she served as its secretary-treasurer for some time and helped the group to raise funds for the United Way of Colbert County. In 1985, the Exchange Club of Colbert County honored Sister by entering her name in its "Book of Golden Deeds."
Though she "retired" to the monastery in 1986, she was far from inactive. In addition to being sacristan, she volunteered in the Community's Adultcare Center, usually playing the piano and leading the clients in a "song-fest." For this and other activities, she was one of those cited in 1991 by the United Way of Cullman County "in recognition of outstanding voluntary service."
Among Sister Cornelia's many talents was making counted cross stitched pictures, even when her eyesight grew poor and her hands were crippled with rheumatoid arthritis. Many became gifts for benefactors of the Community; others grace the monastery's parlors, dining room and private areas. Especially notable is a long banner featuring flowers representing each of the monasteries that figured in Sacred Heart Monastery's founding.
Though Sister Cornelia's talents were many and manifest, the Sisters remember her most for her gracious manner, her generous response to everyone with any need, her courage in bearing pain without complaint, her fidelity to prayer and to the Benedictine Community which she loved.
Sister's brothers Paul Henry and Arnold predeceased her, but she is survived by her sisters, Mrs. Margaret Mary Geise of Clark, South Dakota, and Sister Mary Vincent, organist at Sacred Heart Parish in Cullman; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Beckman, in Tuscumbia; and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as grand- and great- nieces and nephews.
(Benedictine Update, Summer, 2001, p. 7)
Bio by: MSWJLB
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
