Sister PERPETUA (Margaret) Bespflug was called into eternal life on May 14, 2012 at Sunnyside Adventist Care Centre in Saskatoon, SK. She was 91 years old. Daughter of George and Agnes (Loran) Bespflug, she was the fifth of eight children. Her early education was in the country school, Dirksburg, near Blumenfeld, SK. After her Grade VIII, she went to St. Angela’s Academy, and continued her High School, which was often interrupted while she was a companion to the Sisters in the rural schools. She entered the Congregation and made her first vows in 1938.
After Normal School at Moose Jaw, she launched her teaching profession, which proved to be a 43 year career. She served at Denzil, Tramping Lake, Revenue, Quinton, Saskatoon, St. Walburg, Prelate, Battleford, Swift Current, and finally at St. Angela’s Academy at Prelate as Librarian and a tutor for English. What a privilege it was for her to have helped mold the lives of numerous students and to have been associated with so many wonderful parents and teachers. A Sabbatical year and travel experiences enriched her life. In 1983, she attended the Ursuline Institute of Spirituality on the life of Marie of the Incarnation at Cape Rouge, Quebec, and the following year a renewal time at the Galilee Centre in Arnprior, ON. On her fiftieth Jubilee year in 1988, she had the joy of a trip to Fatima and Lourdes. In her retirement, she spent a few years at Macklin helping in Pastoral Ministry with the sick and elderly and occasionally doing substitute teaching at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Provost. She also spent three years at Swift Current assisting the Parish secretary and in her free time reviving her painting skills. In 1995, she moved to Prelate where she assisted the Academy staff and took on library duties and did community service. When the Academy closed in 2007, after having suffered a slight stroke, she moved to St. Angela Merici Residence for retirement. Sister Perpetua was predeceased by her father in 1947; her mother, in 1975; her brothers, George, Frank, John, Bill; and sisters, Elizabeth(Heck) and Anna. Left to cherish her memory are the Ursuline Sisters, her brother Tony(Cecile) and numerous nieces and nephews. A Vigil will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. David Cottingham as the Celebrant. Both services will be held at St. Angela Merici Residence, 125 Cree Crescent, Saskatoon, SK. The Rite of Committal will follow at the Prelate Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends and relatives are asked to contribute to the Ursuline mission of education by donating to St. Angela's Academy Foundation, at 305 Hilliard Street E., Saskatoon, SK, S7J 0E5. Arrangements in care of David Polzen - MOURNING GLORY FUNERAL SERVICES (978-5200) www.mourningglory.ca
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