Funeral Services for Sister Clement Funk
Minnesota native, Sister Clement Funk, 93, a founder of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, entered eternal life Wednesday, (June 28) at a Garrison care center. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 5 p.m. Friday, June 30 in the Annunciation Monastery chapel.
Sister Clement was born June 30, 1912, in New Munich, Minn. to John and Elizabeth (Block) Funk. The second of seven children, she was baptized Mary. Even as a preschooler, Mary wanted to be a sister and was encouraged by her aunt who was a Franciscan sister and by the example of the Benedictine sisters who taught her in grade school.
She entered St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn. in 1930 and made monastic profession July 11, 1934.
Despite being Minnesota-born, Sister Clement soon had her heart in North Dakota. She arrived by train in 1934 at the beginning of the dust storm years and quickly developed a love for the people of North Dakota. She transferred her monastic commitment to Annunciation Monastery when it became an independent foundation in 1947.
Sister Clement was an excellent teacher and in her gentle way impacted the lives of hundreds of students over a 50-year span. She began her career at St. Mary’s Grade School in 1934 when tuition was 75 cents per student for each six week period. She taught first and second grades at St. Mary’s Grade School from 1934-45; first grade at
Cathedral School, 1945-66; third grade, St. Patrick’s School, Dickinson, 1966-74; and second grade in the Trinity school system, Dickinson, 1974-78. She also served as a tutor at Cathedral School from 1978-84.
Sister Clement had a deep faith in God and a special joy for her was praying the Liturgy of the Hours and attending the Eucharist. She also had a global vision and when reading the newspaper would write on little pieces of paper people and places that needed prayer. Often during the Eucharist, she would pray for a social justice intention.
She will be remembered for her dedication to her students, her simple lifestyle and her great kindness to all she met. She was especially close to her family and enjoyed visits with them.
She is survived by three brothers, Anton, Freeport, Minn.; Norbert (Valeria), George (Rose), New Munich, Minn.; a sister, Barbara Wenker, Freeport, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Leona Funk, Freeport, Minn.; Beatrice Funk, New Munich; and the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.
