Sister Audrey Cleary, O.S.B., 78, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, passed away on Monday, December 31, 2018 at the Monastery.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday in the Chapel of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island.
Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.
Audrey Cleary was born on January 2, 1940 in Bloomington, Illinois, a daughter of Michael Cleary and Clarys (Fulton) Cleary. She attended El Paso Grade School and graduated from Academy of Our Lady, Peoria. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Marycrest College, Master of Arts from Marquette University, and Master of Arts in Spirituality from St Mary’s University, Toronto.
Sister Audrey entered the Benedictine community on February 2, 1959 and made her final profession as a Benedictine Sister on July 11, 1965.
Her ministry included teaching at St. Mary’s School, Wenona; Holy Family School, Peoria; St. Mary’s School, Moline; St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo; Alleman High School, Rock Island; Benedictine Religious Education Center, Peru; Associate Director of Religious Education of the Peoria Diocese; Rock Island-Milan Cooperative Ministry; Pastoral Associate, St Mary’s, Moline; Parish Associate Holy Trinity, Bloomington; Sacred Heart House of Prayer, Rock Island; St Ambrose University Prayer and Spirituality Center, Davenport.
She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters; sisters, Sister Catherine Cleary, O.S.B, Colleen Regele, Anne Lyons, Clarys Souter; brothers, Thomas, James and David; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Michael and Robert.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan is in charge of the arrangements.
Comments (5)
Rosemary Woolley:
Jan 02, 2019 at 02:30 PM
My sympathy on the death of Sister Audrey. She was a strong woman
Mary Anne Schreck Liggett:
Jan 02, 2019 at 02:45 PM
Sr, Audrey was a beautiful, kind person....a true gift from God.
Mark Mark Merdian:
Jan 03, 2019 at 10:00 AM
To all the Sisters, please accept my condolences at the death of Sr. Audrey Cleary who was so instrumental in offering spiritual blessings throughout our diocese. The whole Vicariate, including the priests of the area, share offer you their condolences and offer you the hope of Jesus' resurrection for her faithful service to the Church in the Diocese of Peoria. May God's light shine upon her.
Msgr Mark Merdian
Claudia & Jerry Beckwith:
Jan 03, 2019 at 03:27 PM
Our sincere condolences in the passing of Sr. Audrey Cleary. She was a wonderful, sincere and genuine person. She left a lasting impression on both of us. God has taken her home and made her whole again. Blessings to you all.
Karen Hamerly-Lohse:
Jan 04, 2019 at 10:59 AM
To the Sisters,,
My sincere condulences, May Christ light shine upon her soul with hopes of the Resurrection. Sisters and the family Peace and comfort of Christ.
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