+Sister Lorene Judge, O.S.B.
May 19, 1913 - July 31, 2008

Sister Lorene Judge, O.S.B., 95, a Benedictine sister of Mount St. Scholastica, Atchison, Kans., died July 31 at the Atchison Hospital. The vigil service will be Monday, August 4 at 7 pm in the monastery chapel, and the Mass of the Resurrection will be offered there Tuesday, August 5 at 10:30 am.

A native of Atkinson, Neb, Sister Lorene was born May 19, 1913, to Thomas and Josephine Becker Judge. She was baptized Margaret Marie in St. Stephen's Church in Exeter, Neb. She entered the Mount community June 3, 1930, and made monastic profession Jan. 1, 1933. She celebrated her 75th year of monastic profession in 2007.

After entering the community, she completed high school at Mount St. Scholastica Academy and graduated from Mount St. Scholastica College. She received her Master's in Education from St. Louis University. From 1932 to 1947 she taught in elementary schools in Wathena, Kelly, and Welborn, Ks, Montrose and St. Joseph, Mo, and Council Bluffs and Defiance, Ia. From 1947 to 1951 she lived in Kansas City, Ks, where she served as housekeeper to Bishop Donnelly. She served as high school home economics teacher or principal from 1951 to 1987 in Blaine, Seneca, and Axtell, KS, Portsmouth and Creston, IA, Atkinson, Neb., Salisbury, MO, and several schools in Colorado. In their retirement years she and her sister, Sister Gervase, were stalwart supporters of Benedictine College football and basketball teams. The sisters' memory will live on at the College with the two trees overlooking Wilcox Stadium planted in their honor.

Sister Lorene was preceded in death by her parents, by her brothers Linus and Paul; her sisters Sister Gervase of the Mount community, Helen (Mrs. Laurence Beman), Doris (Mrs. Ed Humpal), and Agnes (Mrs. Mrs. Max Hamik) She is survived by her cousin Sister Rita Claire Judge of the Mount community; her brother-in-law Max Hamik, of Atkinson, Nebr., numerous nieces and nephews, and her monastic family. Memorials are suggested to Mount St. Scholastica and may be made to the Benedictine Sisters. Memorials may be sent to Mount St. Scholastica or given online.

Let us remember her gratefully in our prayers.


S. Lorene's memorial card

 "I have called you by name
 and you are mine."
 Isaiah 43:1

On Thursday, July 31, as Sister Lorene Judge was preparing to come home from the hospital the Lord called her, instead, to her eternal home. She had always lived in readiness for whatever was to be and for this moment she was indeed ready. Sister Lorene was the second oldest of seven children  born to Thomas C. and Josephine Becker Judge.  She entered  Mount St. Scholastica in 1930, completed high school at the Academy and professed her first vows on January 1, 1932. Her undergraduate degree was received  from Mount St. Scholastica College and her Master's degree from St. Louis University. This degree in Education prepared her well for her 52 years of teaching and administration in 19 different schools in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, and Iowa. She and Sister Mary Louis Miller devotedly served as housekeepers for Bishop Donnelly from 1947-1951. On February 11, 2007, she celebrated 75 years of monastic profession. Her inner peace and her love of the monastic life were reflected in all she did, the environment she created by her presence, and her positive approach to the activities of her day. Her handiwork done with much care and love, especially her Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, brought enjoyment  to all. She was devoted to her sister, Sister Gervase, and together they were great supporters and pray-ers for the Benedictine College football and basketball teams. May she now enjoy peace in the presence of the Lord whom she served so well in these 95 years.

Relfection given at the Vigil by Marcia Ziska, OSB