Sister Estelle Ternus O.S.B, 102, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Sunday, May 10, 2009 at the Monastery.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the St. Mary Monastery Chapel, Rock Island. Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Monastery, where a Christian wake service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. W., Rock Island, IL 61201.
Sister Estelle was born on May 1, 1907 in Bradford, Ill., a daughter of Peter and Margaret Finnegan Ternus.
She graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill. and received a Bachelor’s Degree in business from De Paul University, Chicago. She also received a M.Ed. in education and business from De Paul.
Sister Estelle entered the Benedictine Community on June 25, 1926 and made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on December 31, 1927. She served 41 years as an elementary and secondary teacher and/or administrator at Immaculate Conception School, Monmouth; St. Roch’s School, LaSalle; St. Mary’s School, Moline; Spalding Institute, Peoria; and St. Mary’s Academy and Parochial, Nauvoo. She served for five years as school secretary at St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo and as secretary to three Prioresses in Nauvoo for a total of 22 years.
She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters, many cousins and faithful friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, and a brother.