In Memoriam: Sister Mary Louis Eichenlaub, OSB
July 13, 1930 ─ January 8, 2024
Our sister, Mary Louis, has returned to you, O God,
after her 93-year sojourn on this earth.
A lover of beauty, she reveled in
the artistry and grandeur of your creation
from the bud of an Easter forsythia to a grand oak.
A woman of graceful demeanor and impeccable
attention to detail, she inspired students
to love the intricacies of grammar and
find strength in the power of creative expression.
Scripture, prayer, and liturgy fed Sister Mary Louis
and in return she gave herself in faith and service
until her final years when all that remained
for her to give was a beautiful smile.
May the memory of Sister Mary Louis inspire us
to see beauty, to love service, and to share smiles.
Amen
Sister Mary Louis Eichenlaub, 93, died on January 8, 2024, at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was born July 13, 1930 in Erie, and her parents Romana (Theno) and Louis Eichenlaub baptized her Jane Frances at St. Mary Church, their home parish.
Sister Mary Louis graduated from St. Benedict Academy in 1948. Two years later she entered the Benedictine Sisters making her perpetual monastic profession on July 8, 1955. She completed her B.A. degree at Villa Maria College that same year. In 1962 she earned an M.A. at the University of Notre Dame and in 1984 a graduate certification in gerontology from Catholic University.
After one year teaching primary school at St. Mary Parish in Erie, Sister Mary Louis spent the remainder of her teaching career, from 1953-1976, in secondary education at St. Benedict Academy and Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie and St. Joseph and Venango Catholic High Schools in Oil City. Sister Mary Louis also served as her community’s novice director from 1965-1968. She brought her love of beauty and artistic eye to creating liturgical environments in the monastery chapel for many years.
After leaving teaching, from 1977-1980 Sister Mary Louis was the Director of Social Services at St. Joseph Apartments in Erie. From 1980-1983, she worked in public relations for the Benedictine sisters. She returned to St. Mary Parish in 1983 where she served as pastoral minister for the aging until 1995. She then became an English instructor at St. Benedict Education Center until she retired in 2008.
Sister Mary Louis served on the Board of Directors for Inter-Church Ministries of Northwest Pennsylvania and in 1990 she received the Papal Cross in recognition of her service to the People of God, especially the poor on Erie’s east side. In 2010 Church Women United honored Sister Mary Louis with its Valiant Woman award for her more than 35 years of commitment and service to the organization.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, Louis and Romana, her sister Marjorie, and her brother-in-law Ted Londregan. She is survived by her nephew John (Victoria) Londregan.
Services will take place at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery: Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Visitation from 2:00–5:00 p.m. and a Service of Memories at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, January 11, Visitation from 2:00–5:00 p.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial at 5:30 p.m. Interment will be private. Brugger Funeral Homes and Crematory, Pine Avenue Branch, 845 East 38th Street, is handling arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, Pennsylvania, 16511, click here.
