Dominican Sister of Peace Elaine Osborne, OP, (Frances Jeanette) (79) died October 28, 2018 at the Great Bend Motherhouse in Great Bend, KS.
Sister Elaine, one of two children, was born in 1938 in Shattuck, OK, to Helen Tillemans and Edward McClain Osborne. Elaine entered consecrated life in 1954 as a high school student, and faithfully lived her vows for more than 60 years.
Sister Elaine earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Marymount College and a Master of Arts in English from Oklahoma State University. She spent 25 years teaching elementary and junior high students in Kansas and Oklahoma. She took a great deal of joy in sharing her love of writing with them, making sure her that first graders had a solid foundation and a love of learning.
A poet and writer, Elaine was a consistent and creative participant in the development of the Dominican Cluster, which ultimately led to the founding of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. She was also the Great Bend KS representative to the Dominican Communication Network, and among the first communicators to form the OPCOMNET in 1995.
Sister Elaine might be best remembered for her own writing. She spent many years at the Pilgrim House of Praise writing and in the Communications Office in the Great Bend Motherhouse, where she served the founding and present Congregation as its communicator for more than 30 years. Her work can be found throughout the writings of the Congregation, including its Constitution and several annual reports.
From her childhood, Sr. Elaine was connected and passionate about Earth and nature. It was a constant theme in her writing, and her personal journals featured not only writings but lovely pencil drawings. She delighted in any opportunity to commune quietly in God’s creation, and to record it in her poems and writings.
A Vigil service for Sr. Elaine was held on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Great Bend Motherhouse. The Funeral mass was held on Wednesday, October 31. Sr. Elaine Osborne was laid to rest at the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery in Great Bend, KS.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Elaine Osborne’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus, OH, 43219 or submitted securely at oppeace.org.
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