Sister Eulalia Brophy

Sister Eulalia Brophy, died Friday, October 21, 2016, at the Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 28, 2016, at the Chapel of the Mount St. Benedict in Crookston with Msgr. Roger Grundhaus, presiding. Visitation will be there on Thursday from 5-7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, and also for one hour prior to the Funeral Mass. Burial will be in the Mount St. Benedict Cemetery. Mary Doris Brophy was born November 30, 1920 in Shauanvon, Saskatchewan, Canada. She was the second youngest of three sons and six daughters of Timothy and Mary (McDonald) Brophy. The many stories of her childhood speak of one who was loved and cherished by her parents. At night, when the children were ready for bed, her mother would take care of the baby, and the children knelt by their father to say their night prayers. At an early age Doris portrayed many of the characteristics which would be apparent all through her later life: generosity, thoughtfulness and a great deal of initiative which sometimes got her into difficulty. Even at a young age she was impatient with delay and she admitted to wanting to "get things done!" Her sense of what was just and right impelled her as a child to stand up for what she believed to be right. Even as an adult an often heard phrase, spoken emphatically, was, "I just don't believe in it!" Her first encounter with sisters occurred when Sister Charitas, her oldest sister, came home for a visit. Doris had been one year old when Sister Charitas (Gertrude) left home for Mount Saint Benedict, so at the young age of seven she and her sister Bernice were in awe of this black robed person and implored their mother not to be left alone with her! However, they soon overcame their shyness, and Sister Eulalia later wrote that the example of her oldest sister was the first awakening of her vocation. A recurrence of her father's asthma compounded by repeated crop failures led to the family sell their farm and return to Ottawa, Ontario, where Doris attended high school. By this time her desire to follow Sister Charitas to become a sister led her to Mount Saint Benedict where she was given the name Eulalia. When the prioress, Mother Monica Forkey, asked her how she liked her new name, Doris, ever honest, said, "I can't pronounce it, I can't spell it and I don't like it!" Mother Monica explained that it was her baptismal name, and related the life story of the young martyr whose name it was. Sister Eulalia learned to love the name because of her love and admiration for Mother Monica who had been her mentor through the many homesick days of her early life so far away from home. After making final monastic profession in 1943, Sister Eulalia's ministries led her in many directions, supported by a bachelor's degree from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. Sister Eulalia was an expert and much-loved teacher of students in Lefor, ND, and in various schools in the Crookston diocese: Detroit Lakes, Cathedral, Moorhead and East Grand Forks. She was principal at Detroit Lakes and assistant principal in East Grand Forks. In 1990, Sister Eulalia returned to the Mount where she continued her love of teaching children by supervising the computer lab at the Cathedral school. She personified gracious Benedictine hospitality when working at the reception desk, caring for the needs of guests staying in the guest department, encountering other sisters in her daily life and working at the Chancery assisting with various tasks for Bishop Francis Schenk. Sister Eulalia enjoyed designing cards with pressed flowers, making hurricane candles and embroidering dish towels – her signature design was the butterfly! The person to call when there are gifts to be wrapped was Sister Eulalia. When asked to state what has appealed to her since she became a member of the community she wrote simply: daily prayer in common, the Eucharistic liturgies and community life. Sister Eulalia is preceded in death by her parents Timothy and Mary Brophy, brothers: Francis, Wallace and John, sisters: Rita Nierenhausen, Audrey Cox, Irene Thompson, Sister Charitas Brophy, Vera Brophy and Bernice Carson. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Saint Benedict of Crookston.

Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral & Cremation Service 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Previous Events

Visitation
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Service
Friday, October 28, 2016
cemetery
Friday, October 28, 2016