Sister M. Rebecca Peters, SSND

(born Collete Peters)

First Profession August 3, 1956

Motherhouse

St. Louis, Missouri

Beloved sister of Sister Marie Augusteen Peters, SSND.

Sister Rebecca embraced this past "year of grace" as she patiently endured the consequences of cancer. Her journey to God began on June 28, 1937, when she was born to Margaret [Quick] and Leo Peters in St. Louis, Mo. She was baptized on July 11, 1937, at St. Aloysius Church and named Collete Margaret.

Collete attended St. Aloysius School where she had School Sisters of Notre Dame for her teachers. When she was in the fourth grade, a visiting sister came to talk about vocations. Th e sister gave each student a prayer card with a prayer to know one's vocation and a prayer for religious vocations. This became Collete's daily prayer.

Having completed the fifth grade, her family, including her two younger sisters and younger brother, moved with their parents to Glennonville, Mo., a small rural area in southeast Missouri. She completed her elementary education under the guidance of the Ursuline Sisters.

Recognizing that God was calling her to religious life, she entered the Aspiranture at Ripa. By spending a summer in classes at Quincy, Ill., she completed her high school requirements in three years. Collete received the candidate's bonnet in her home parish on August 29, 1954, and arrived at Ripa the same day. She was received into the novitiate on August 2, 1955, and given the name M. Rebecca. Profession of first vows was on August 3, 1956, and final vows on August 3, 1962.

Sister Rebecca ministered as an elementary educator for more than 50 years. She taught at St. Boniface, Quincy; St. Paul, Highland, Ill.; St. Mary, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; St. Joseph, Scott City, Mo.; and Our Lady of Loretto and St. Peter Claver in St. Louis. She also served as principal at St. Joseph, Manchester, Mo., and St. Joseph, Scott City. She assisted the novice directress for one year as well as performed community service at Notre Dame Hall and St. Gabriel's in St. Louis. For nearly 20 years, she was a tutor at Notre Dame Tutorial/Learning Center at the motherhouse. During this time, she underwent several eye surgeries to improve her vision but found reading a challenge.

In October 2008, Sister Rebecca was admitted to St. Anthony's Medical Center where she was diagnosed with tumors on the brain, lung and kidney. Brain surgery, removal of a kidney, radiation and chemotherapy arrested the malignancy for a time. In September 2009, she underwent a painful process of daily removal of fluid from her lung. Her sister, Sister Marie Augusteen, came from Honduras to companion her during this time. After several days in the hospital in mid-October, she returned to the motherhouse infirmary and was placed on hospice. She peacefully surrendered her life to God on October 17, 2009, at 7:50 p.m. as the sister praying the Rosary at her bedside completed the last Hail Mary.

Sister Rebecca was a prayerful, conscientious, determined and committed religious. Prayer before the Eucharist was part of her daily routine, and she had an extraordinary devotion to the Blessed Mother. She treasured her family. She was an outstanding elementary educator. She had a network of lay friends who shared her zeal for God.

May Sister Rebecca now experience the fullness of life and the happiness that only God can give!

School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Louis Province

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord!