Our dear Sr. M. DeSales Markert died quietly and peacefully at 8:55 PM on Tuesday, March 23, 1993, in St. Benedict Health Care community at our St. Louis monastery. She would have been 97 yrs. old in September, yet the end of her earthly sojourn seemed to come quickly. On Friday morning she was not feeling well enough to get out of bed, and was encouraged to rest. She ate very little that day, and on Saturday was yet weaker. Sunday evening when Gladys told her that Jesus was coming for her soon, Sr. M. DeSales responded with peaceful joy saying that she had been preparing for this for a long time. The sisters and novices kept vigil with her Monday night, and all day Tuesday there was always someone or a group of sisters gathered in prayerful watch with her. At 8:55 PM Sr. M. Roberta, who was there praying the rosary, glanced over and saw no movement of the covers. Sr. M. DeSales, with a song in her heart but no sound for us to hear, had quietly slipped into eternity. The bell was tolled and a group of Sisters gathered in the room where Sr. Karen led the prayers for our departed sister.

Adelaide Marie Markert was born September 2, 1896 on a 240 acre farm near New Market, Minnesota, the 15th and youngest child of Ignatius and Anna (Vierling) Markert. From earliest years she had an eager mind for learning and liked to write, so that at age 6 her teacher had her write a short story for a county contest. Adelaide wrote in her autobiography: "I had an affectionate nature and a sunny disposition" and she described her childhood years as carefree and happy. 

After high school she did clerical work, was secretary in a bank, then secretary at a large law firm. Two of her sisters were Srs. of St. Joseph, but she had not considered a religious vocation herself. On a pilgrimage to St. Anne deBeaupre in Canada she formed a close friendship with Anne Fink who would become our Sr. M. DePazzi. After Anne joined the Clyde community, Adelaide went for her investment ceremony and had an interview with both Fr. Lucas Etlin and Mother Dolorosa which resulted in her decision to enter at Clyde. She entered Nov. 21, 1926, was invested Sept. 3, 1927, professed 1st.vows Sept. 8, 1928 and perpetual vows Sept. 8, 1933. 

Later she learned that her superiors had promised St. Francis de Sales, patron of the Catholic Press, that if he would bring them a sister capable of helping with the editorial work of their publication, "Tabernacle and Purgatory" they would give her his name. While a novice her talent and love for writing was discovered and she was assigned to the editorial dept. In 1935 she became editor of the magazine, a position she held until 1969. She served on the General Council from 1938 - 1950, along with her editorial duties. She was substitute novice director for one year and Junior director for five years. In January 1970 Sr. M. DeSales was transferred to our St. Louis monastery after being relieved of her duties as editor. She continued doing literary work and proof-reading, did some typing for Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller, and for about 10 years typed manuscripts for Fr. Basil Pennington.

Sr. M. DeSales maintained the happy heart of her youth for more than 96 years, and she could often be seen and heard sitting in solitude softly singing to herself and to her God. She sang because she was happy. How deeply we have been enriched by her radiant smile, her sense of humor and her spontaneous words of spiritual wisdom. After the election of Sr. Karen as prioress general in August 1990, Sr. M. DeSales came up to Sr. Karen in the refectory and said very dramatically: "I am really disappointed; I just lost my last chance to be prioress general!" And then she warmly embraced Sr. Karen with all the love of which she was so capable. She was able to communicate such peace and joy to others from her happy and loving heart.

We shall miss Sr. M. DeSales’ cheerful presence, but even now we find that her "sunny disposition" penetrates through our tears to leave behind a rainbow of peace, love and gratitude in our hearts for the gift of her presence in our midst. She often wondered why God was leaving her on earth so long. Now she must understand that it was for our benefit.

Funeral liturgy was celebrated in our St. Louis monastery chapel at 8:45 AM on Friday, March 26, with burial at Mt. Calvary cemetery at our Clyde monastery the following day. May she rest in peace!