SISTER JANE MARGARET FLEMMING, CSJ
1912 – 2009
You will see God’s glory within you;
The Lord will dawn on you in radiant glory.
Advent Morning Prayer
Margaret, a welcomed gift to her Irish parents, Margaret Ehlenz and William Flemming, was born on November 16, 1912. Together with her six brothers and three sisters, Margaret attended the public grade school and high school in quiet, peaceful Minneota, Minnesota. The Flemming family lived on Main Street and they knew everybody in town.
Following her high school graduation, Margaret expressed a desire to become a nurse. Since she was not yet eighteen, she had to wait a year before she would be old enough to enter the School of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul. In the meantime, Margaret’s father became very ill so she decided to stay home in order to assist the family in caring for him. The year at home and the opportunity to share in providing compassionate care for a loved one deepened Margaret’s call to the ministry of health care.
At the age of eighteen, Margaret entered the School of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital. At that time Sister Harriet Tillemans, the Administrator, noticed Margaret’s presence at daily Mass and her love for prayer. She encouraged the young woman to consider a vocation to religious life. Margaret did consider the invitation and subsequently entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph, September 8, 1931, the feast of the Nativity of Mary. On the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, 1932, Margaret was received into the Congregation and was given her religious name, Sister Jane Margaret. On the feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1937, she pronounced her perpetual vows. Vowed life in community was the answer to her heart’s desire.
Earlier, in 1934, Sister Jane Margaret had become a student nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital. This was the first step in long years of health care ministry within a hospital setting she dearly loved. From 1937-1945, Sister served successively as surgery supervisor, night supervisor and medical supervisor. Following a brief mission as the nurse at the St. Paul Orphanage, Sister Jane Margaret served as floor supervisor at St. Michael’s Hospital, Grand Forks; as supervisor of nurses, St. John’s Hospital, Fargo; and as floor supervisor again in Grand Forks.. In 1956, Sister was appointed the night supervisor at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul. Everywhere Sister Jane Margaret was known as a highly competent nurse and supervisor, as well as a joyful community-builder in the local convent and “on the floors”. In 1958, Sister was asked to study anesthesiology. With her usual graciousness and enthusiasm, she completed the two-year course and was sent to St. Michael’s to share her wisdom, expertise and faith life. Returning to St. Mary’s in 1965, she served in the School of Anesthesia “back home again”.
As for her formal education, Sister Jane Margaret had received her RN in Nursing from St. Mary’s Hospital in 1937. In 1946, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree from the College of St. Catherine, with majors in Nursing and Biology. Later, following two years of advanced study in Anesthesia, she was certified as a Nurse Anesthetist. In the summer of 1973, Sister studied Pastoral Counseling at St. John’s University, Collegeville, and in 1976, she was granted Membership in the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. However, Sister Jane Margaret often said that her most enriching education was living in community and serving in ministries at St. Mary’s Hospital for a record of nearly forty years.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Sister Jane Margaret generously shared her many gifts as anesthetist, staff nurse, chaplain, patient visitor, central supply aide, physical therapy aide, Seton Center receptionist, patient representative and volunteer for the Carondelet Healthcare Foundation. Sister also helped wherever she was needed, working with St. Mary’s Auxiliary, the Junior College and the Alumnae Association. Among her happiest memories were the ten years she served in Pastoral Care, as well as her volunteer service in St. Mary’s Clinics which continue to serve the medical needs of the uninsured and the under-insured.
Sister Jane Margaret came to Bethany in November, 1991, with the last of the “St. Mary Sisters”. As always, she was a caring Sister of St. Joseph. She died on Friday, December 4. Her peaceful countenance gave evidence of total readiness for Christ’s coming as she lived out Advent’s most meaningful invitation, “Come, Lord Jesus, come.”
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Bethany Chapel on Wednesday, November 9, with Father Jim Lynch presiding. Burial followed at Resurrection Cemetery.
Sister Jane Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, the Sisters of St. Joseph and Consociates, and the Staff and caregivers at Bethany.
May she rest in peace.
