“May Christ Bring us all together to everlasting life.”
Rule of St. Benedict, Chapter 72

Sister Duane (Patricia) Moes was born on December 27, 1921 and died peacefully on June 30, 2020 in the Monastery Healthcare Center at age 98, having lived her monastic profession 76 years. She was the last living charter member of our Community. Sister Duane was born to John Moes, a farmer and telephone company employee, and Margaret (Gergen) in New Trier, MN. She was second in a family of four children. She had three brothers — Bernard, John, and Nicholas. She received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation at St. Mary’s Church in New Trier. In 1938 she entered the Scholasticate at St. Benedict’s in St. Joseph, MN. After attending high school at St. Benedict’s Academy, she graduated from the College of St. Catherine. She continued her studies at the College of St. Benedict, the College of St. Catherine, Moorhead State College and Ball State University.

After her first vows in 1943, she began her teaching ministry at St. Mary's in St. Cloud, MN, followed by Presentation of Mary in Breckenridge, MN, St. Bernard's in St. Paul, Holy Redeemer in Montgomery, and Maternity of Mary in St. Paul. Sister Duane taught summer vacation school in Tyler, Rush City, Buhl, Cannon Falls, Hamel, and at St. Bernard's in St. Paul.

She was elected Prioress of St. Paul’s Monastery and served from 1980-1984. After her term as Prioress, she returned to Holy Redeemer in Montgomery as principal and teacher for ten years. She retired to the Monastery and later served as the Monastery’s treasurer from 1997-2002.

Sister Duane was among the founding charter members of St. Paul’s Priory in 1948. At that time, 178 Benedictine Sisters from St. Benedict’s Priory in St. Joseph, MN established a new priory at 301 Summit Avenue in St. Paul.

Sister Duane was a gifted conversationalist. She loved science, had a good sense of humor, and found joy easy to come by. She liked to read about a variety of topics, often spicing her conversation with her latest reading finds. She was always pleasant and had an upbeat attitude.

Preceded in death by her parents and brothers, she is survived by her sister-in-law Mabel, nieces, nephews and her Benedictine Sisters. We pray, that after her many years of dedication and prayer, she may be received into heaven with the same love she bestowed on others.

May Perpetual Light Shine Upon Her.

FUNERAL SERVICE LIVE STREAM INFORMATION

Due to COVID19, the funeral services at St. Paul’s Monastery will not be open to the public, however we invite you to watch the live stream this Wednesday, July 8 at 11:00 a.m. on the St. Paul’s Monastery Facebook page. You will need to be logged into your Facebook account to view the live stream. If you have difficulty finding the live stream on our Facebook home page, navigate to our videos page; the live stream should be at the top of the videos page once it is in progress.

REMEMBRANCES AND MEMORIALS

We also invite you to send your remembrances for Sister Duane Moes to our Community at development@stpaulsmonastery. Donations in memory of Sister Duane can be made here.

Community of St. Paul’s Monastery
Sisters, Oblates and Benedictine Associates
Sister Catherine Nehotte, OSB, Prioress
St. Paul, Minnesota Federation of St. Benedict