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Remembering Our Beloved Sisters

Roberta Knakel, OSB

As Jesus was going around selecting his apostles he saw Nathanael coming toward him and he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him. Nathanael said, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”Sister Roberta’s character was quite similar to that of Nathanael. Jesus too would say of her, “Here is a true child of God, there is no duplicity in her.” She would then say, “How do you know me?” Jesus would reply, “I have known you from your birth; you have been precious in my eyes,” and she would respond, “Jesus, You are the Son of God; You have been born for us to be our Savior and to be the King of all the nations.

Those of us who knew Sister Roberta well, know that she was a true-blue child of God, there was no guile in her. This purity of heart was evident especially in her last days. She was completely centered on God and was very appreciative of others. As her admiring family circled around her recliner chair in St. Walburga’s Care Center here last Sunday; in a presiding mode, she delivered her “state of belief” address. She told them that God was going to call her home soon. She instructed them to remain pleasing to God and always do God’s will. She reminded them that she loved them and that they would see each other again after the resurrection of the dead when they would all live together for all eternity. Then as the family prayed for her, she interrupted them saying, “Let us also pray for world peace.” Her reassuring speech was a touching manifestation of her profound faith. That evening as we were positioning her to make her comfortable for the night, she thanked us for the good care we had given her and said she loved us all. A few minutes later she drew her last breath being welcomed into the arms of her merciful Savior. It was the feast of the Epiphany, January 3, 2010.

In 1956, I first got to know Sister Roberta. First of all, five of us Sisters were assigned for a new school at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Wichita Falls, Texas. On meeting with the Monsignor Pastor when we arrived there, he asked who of us could play the organ. All of us agreed we could find middle C on the piano and one Sister proudly announced she could play Chop-Sticks with two hands. That was not good news for the Monsignor

so he went back to the rectory and called the Reverend Mother here in Lisle. Two days later Sister Roberta, who had barely made her first profession, arrived to be not only the organist but also a school teacher. With Sister’s arrival we were a happy community of six and, of course, the pastor was most happy to have an organist.

 After five years in Texas, Sister Roberta was always missioned from now on with a double ministry as organist and teacher. She served at Our Lady of Lourdes School and later St. Vitas School in Chicago and then at Sacred Heart Academy and stayed at Benet Academy in Lisle for over 20 years. Since 1968, Sister Roberta helped as part time organist at our monastery and some years later became full time along with being choir director, composer and compiler of music for the Sisters’ Liturgy of the Hours and the organist for the daily Mass attended by the Sisters and later as well, by the Villa St. Benedict Residents.

Sister Roberta had received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from St. Procopius College and a Master’s degree in Mathematics from Boston College. This was her background for teaching Math at Benet Academy and it also accounted for her measured preciseness and good stewardship in everything she did.

Her desire for advancement in music was evident when in 1991 she began working for her second major in music with a concentration on Piano Pedagogy at Benedictine University. This gave her credibility to give private music lessons. Her greatest love, however, was to be able to play the piano and organ well for the Liturgy. She was a member of the Benedictine Musicians of America an organization that meets biennially for the development of worship in the light of the Second Vatican Council. The thrust of this group is to encourage musicians to be men and women of prayer and to be faithful to the Benedictine legacy. Though Sister Roberta never made a big deal about it, one of her compositions entitled “I Will Sing Forever of Your Kindness and of Your Love, O Lord” was accepted for publication by the Benedictine Musicians of America. Many of the antiphons we use in the Liturgy of the Hours are her compositions as well. Perhaps the most beautiful are those she composed for the feast of St. Scholastica.

In her modesty, Sister Roberta would never have considered herself as a remarkable organist but I believe she was. In 2005, using our new digital organ for the re-dedication of our chapel, her performance was outstanding. When I complimented her saying that her organ playing sounded like a full orchestra, she responded, “I didn’t play alone, I had Divine Assistance.” However, due to her failing health in the last few years, she lacked the energy needed for this awesome, daily task but she continued to push herself to do it as best as she could.

Besides being gifted in music and mathematics, Sister Roberta loved to go fishing. Almost every summer she would go fishing with her friend Noreen in Wisconsin. Other times when she went on vacation with her Sister Betty’s family, even if her family didn’t schedule a fishing trip, she herself would conjure up someone who would rent her a boat. It was her time to relax, catch some blue gills and maybe meet the Lord in person on the lake.

For Sister Roberta now, her earthly days are done, and now her desire to please God has taken on a new, unbroken day of love, light and peace. We took her for granted when she was with us but now, we miss the faithfulness she had for her ministry and her gentleness of spirit. We are blessed to have had her as our Sister. To quote one of her favorite psalms of praise and thanksgiving, we pray with her now;

Psalm 92:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

To sing praise to your name, Most High,

To proclaim your kindness at dawn

And your faithfulness throughout the night.

With ten-stringed instrument and lyre,

With melody upon the harp,

For you make me glad, O Lord,

By your deeds,

At the works of your hands I rejoice.

Celine Laketek, OSB

 Life Steeped in the “mysticism” of the “ordinary” daily human experiences

 These words were written by Sister Celine as the last verse of a thank you note to her family and our community. Before I read her note of thanks, let me reflect on her life based on a Magnificat she also wrote during retreat in 1988.

 “My soul exults and rejoices in you Yahweh my Savior. You bestowed countless blessings on me--- and always held me in the palm of your hand.”

 “What a beautiful day! The sky is blue; the sun is shining….One day closer to spring”. These words Celine often spoke at breakfast table in the last few months of her life. She longed for the beauty of the new growth of spring and the brightness of the new day sun. The beauty inside the monastic walls, the decorations in chapel and the outside world always touched her.  Her love of nature took her for many a walk outside with Sister Margaret or going on a trip with Villa St Benedict, St Joan of Arc Golden Agers, the Park District to the Flower Show or through Morton Arboretum as the seasons changed.  She traveled to different parts of the world with her sister, Cele, enjoying the beauty of each trip. She loved singing praise to God, whether it was singing the “Easter Alleluias”, leading prayer as a cantor, taking her science classes on a nature hike, walking to the Grotto with the sisters in the novitiate to sing a Gelineau Psalm or visiting Father Gilbert and his many rose bushes at St Procopius Academy. Her dedication to community involvement, community prayer, singing in choir and lectio was a constant. These were many ways for her to express her joy and love. Yes, her soul still exults in the Lord.

 “You have given me the loving and stable support of my community and my family and friends.”

 Sister Celine Laketek, (Rose) was the fifth of six children born to Czech immigrants, John and Frances Laketek on February 12, 1920 in Chicago, Illinois. She is preceded in death by her parents, 2 brothers, Father Victor and Father Gilbert of St Procopius Abbey; and two sisters, Anne Kment and Mary Binder.  Her sister Cele remains as the sole survivor of this close knit family.  They grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago, a community closely connected with their church, St Vitus.  Almost every corner had a church of a different ethnic back ground; even today you identify yourself by the church you belonged to.  She was taught by the Benedictines at St Vitus Grade School and came to Lisle to attend Sacred Heart Academy along with her sister, Cele. Sister Celine’s aunt, Sister Josephine Prince and a cousin, Sister Dolorosa were Benedictines and that’s how she came to be introduced to the monastery. She entered Sacred Heart Monastery in August 1937, making her Monastic Profession on August 15, 1939.As a child Celine grew up during the Depression.  When her father lost his job, the family became very poor. Yet her mother always had something extra for a neighboring family that might also be struggling. The concept of taking care of and being with her sisters in community began with family influence.  It was very important to Celine to have a connection with community. She spent many a day or night sitting with a sister that was hospitalized.  She regularly visited the sick and did pop in visits to the Benedale residents. If only a couple minutes, she stopped in to reassure them that someone remembered them and was praying for them.  If we had guests she made sure she introduced herself and talked with them. She made weekly phone calls to friends that lived alone, making a connection and promising to pray for them.

In her most recent years Celine would often say, “Don’t get old, it’s no fun.” She had her share of surgeries throughout the years.  Celine was very private about her own well being; in fact she thought it was none of our business.  On one occasion she went to the hospital for a serious surgery and probably told only the Prioress about it.  As she was leaving with a small suitcase to go to the hospital, one of the sisters told her to have a good time, not knowing she was having major surgery! As the aging process caught up with her, she dealt with a loss of hearing.  Hearing aids and she were not good friends. I remember her telling me a few times how lonely she felt because she couldn’t hear the conversations at table. She wanted to be connected with us. Celine always gave her piece of wisdom to us. It would be highly unusual for her not to make a comment at the dining room table or a community meeting. 

Sister Geraldine is a lifelong friend. They grew up together, went to the same schools and entered the convent together. They remained good friends throughout the years. Recently Sister Geraldine wrote to Celine “The last time I came to Lisle you and I came to the realization that our earthly sojourn some day will end, and we said our good-byes, knowing well that we would never see each other again. Now, Celine, it seems your strife is almost over and your battle has been won. I wish I could be with you in person for this last journey. We’ve walked a long way together and I trust we will one day be together again.” “Let us continue to pray for each other as we always have. If we do this, our friendship will reach its fulfillment in the love of God and his holy mother. Yes, family, community and friends were her love and support.

 “You have guided me in the various ministries of my life.  I believe in your unconditional love.  I entrust my life and all those I hold as precious to your faithful love.”

Sister Celine started her teaching career in 1939 at St Michael’s Grade School and then moved on to Holy Mount, St Joseph Orphanage and the Junior High at Sacred Heart Academy. Gifted will a good mind, she studied at and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree from St Louis University. She then taught Biology for 3 years at Sacred Heart Academy until she was asked to be the Novice Mistress. For 16 years she helped form those who entered our community. We all have many stories to tell, whether it was working in the garden, dusting chapel, working in the laundry, climbing apple trees, picking beans, doing dishes or having class with Sister Mistress.  We learned the liturgical year and all the feasts; read “Little Placid”, studied the Rule and learned Gregorian chant.  It had to be a proud moment when each of her understudies became professed as a part of this community.

With the change of administration, Celine went back to teaching Junior High students in Queen of Peace School, Wichita Falls, Texas, St Joan of Arc, Lisle and St James the Apostle, Glen Ellyn.

One of the loves of her life was reading.  Her sister Cele tells of the times they would go to the library to bring back arm loads of books.  When asked what they would do with all those books, they answered “Read them!” When they couldn’t find any more good books at one library they would go to another library to fill their appetite for reading.  With this in mind, it is no wonder that Celine would go on to study Library Science, getting a Masters Degree at Rosary College and then spent 10 years as Librarian at St Joan of Arc School.

While still at St Joan of Arc, she was also the Sub Prioress and house coordinator at the monastery. It was during this time that she saw a need to take care of our retired and aging sisters.  Knowing she would need some training for this work she went by train to Hinsdale Hospital School of Nursing to become an LPN and then worked in the infirmary for many years. She also extended her services to the local community as she went on a regular basis to the Park District to take blood pressure for the senior citizens.

Always knowing the importance of being active and moving around, Celine took an exercise course called Body Recall.  She would have exercises with our infirm sisters and also with the Assisted Living residents. She would have the group “catching butterflies, playing the piano, or tossing a sponge ball to help keep their muscles toned. She knew that even if you are infirmed and in a wheelchair, there still are exercises that can help you. This also became another way for her to mingle with and be present to the Villa St Benedict residents.

In the final chapter of her ministerial life, Celine was the community archivist.  She worked many hours organizing our history.  A special bulletin board was put up in the 1^st floor hallway of the new monastery so that she could display pictures of our farm, early building projects, snake hill (Maple Avenue), the original convent building and grounds, the chapel old and new.  She wanted us to always remember the past and the sisters who got us here.

Yes, Celine was given many opportunities for enrichment and studies; these blessings she turned into going the extra mile to use her talents and energy for her community, Villa St Benedict residents, family and friends.

And as a final thank you, Sister Celine wrote the following words. (I quote):

“I am grateful to God for the years spent in the service of the church in this community.

I thank all my OSB Sisters for their love and support.  I am grateful to my family for their steadfast and caring presence in all life and for their unfailing goodness to me at all times.  My appreciation for my community and family has, indeed, increased through the years.

I thank God for the gift of a simple, unheroic life and for the grace to be of service to others.  My life has been steeped in the “mysticism” of the “ordinary” daily human experiences.” (End of quote)

 Sister Celine, we thank you for your faithfulness and ever present love to all of us. Yes, as Sister Geraldine said “we’ve walked a long way together”. May you rest in peace! 

From St. Vitus Parish in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois Agnes Hartwig attended Sacred Heart Academy in Lisle. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University, Sister taught at Sacred Heart Academy and grade schools until 1947. Sister then to moved to assuming leadership roles as Treasurer and Prioress until 1973. After her term in office she returned to the educational field and parish work as secretary and organist at Holy Trinity Parish in Haugen Wisconsin until 1985, when she retired.

A highlight of Sister’s career was receiving certification for transcribing Braille for the blind, and then working as a volunteer to assist them. Sister also enjoyed assisting with the PADS Program (Public Assistance to Deliver Shelter) for the homeless. Sister served as the editor of the Lisle Benedictine Women during the 70’s.

 After funeral services on Saturday, September 8th, Sister Mary Louise was buried in St. Scholastica Cemetery on the monastery grounds. Surviving members of her family are her brother Edward, nephew Brother Louis Hurcik, CSC and nieces Mary Lou Johnson, & Valerie Navarre.

 As a former teacher, Sister Generosa taught us some valuable lessons by her living example since she returned home from the nursing facility a year and a half ago.

 The first lesson she taught us was to respect her life. Due to the loss of her cognitive functions of memory and rational speech, and her inability to walk because of her crippled legs, she was totally dependent on others. She must have been aware, to some degree, of the physical hardships she was experiencing. A normal question for her would have been, “What was there to live for?” In our mindset of faith, however, we knew that God had given Sister Generosa the gift of life and she in turn gave us the gift of her disabled life. It was for us to learn to see the suffering Savior in her. We were to care for her by keeping in mind the day of our own judgment before God when we will be asked: “What did you do for the least of my Sisters and Brothers?”

The second lesson she taught us was that peace and happiness are the result of embracing God’s will. A sense of peace and joy were the expression on Sister’s face as she dozed daily in her chair in the infirmary lounge. Passersby would remark at how angelic she looked. On awakening she would often smile and show recognition with her eyes of whoever was near. At times, she would try to speak though it was not understandable.  Sometimes she would giggle and since we were unaware of what she was laughing about, we surmised it must have been a funny joke an angel had just whispered to her.

 The third lesson she taught us was that God looks at the sincerity of one’s heart not so much at high sounding words. The saying that when a baby babbles, God becomes ecstatic and interprets the babbling to be a grateful song of praise from this little creature. In the same way, Sister Generosa, in her child-like innocence, would chant a repetitious babble in the evening which sometimes sounded as if she were campaigning for Obama, bama, bama. However, God hears things differently than humans do and must have been very pleased to hear her mantra chant of praise.

 The fourth lesson she taught us was that we do not belong to this world. The world no longer had a hold on her. Often when she was being fed, she would stop and gaze toward the ceiling, sometimes blinking her eyes as if celestial beings were present in her visual field. She no longer had any interest in daily events, stories or music. She was totally immersed in a world of tranquility, and in her vulnerability, God was slowly carrying her away from us over the eternal bridge to that wonderful place of blessing.

Then, what homework did she assign? She assigned only one thing and that was for us to be her friends. In other words, to confirm her human dignity by feeding her when she was hungry, keeping her clean and comfortable, visiting and consoling her when she was lonely or crying, and above all, praying for her, thereby keeping her directed toward God, her one and only desire.

We are grateful for what Sister Generosa taught us and we praise God for taking her away from us on the feast of the Immaculate Conception since in her lifetime she was so devoted to the Blessed Mother. We visualize her now as God’s precious soul in total rapture as she worships God in spirit and in truth. May she enjoy God’s promise of immeasurable happiness where divine and human love dwell in fullness forever. Amen.

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