Sister Emily Meisel

Sister Emily Meisel, age 91, of Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, SD, died on March 11, 2024 at the Village of Harmony Hill in Watertown, SD. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Mother of God Monastery in Watertown.  

Burial will be at Mother of God Monastery Cemetery in Watertown.

S. Emily was born on Sept. 14, 1932, in Flasher, ND, to Lewis Meisel and Pauline (Dolderer) and given the name Clara Virginia. S. Emily was the sixth of eight children. Pauline traveled back to her birthplace in Buchau, Germany to rescue her niece Erika, who was orphaned after her father was killed during World War II. Emily said, “Erika became one of our family, like a sister.”

S. Emily grew up on a ranch near Selfridge, ND, which nurtured her love of nature and the presence of God in all things. She and her younger brother, Jim, spent time doing chores together and riding horseback was a special treat for them.

As a small girl, Emily heard a call to become a sister. At 15, her parents made it possible for her to go to high school at Mount Marty in Yankton, SD. In June of 1946, just 16 years old, Emily entered Sacred Heart Convent in Yankton. After high school and one year of college, S. Emily began teaching elementary school, a mission that would last for 23 years. These assignments would send her to the South Dakota towns of Dimock, Zell, Polo, Aberdeen, and Richardton, ND.

S. Emily loved learning, having received degrees: BA from Mount Marty College; M Ed from Univ. ND; certificate in Spirituality from St. Louis University, MO; and MA in Spirituality from Holy Names College in Oakland, CA.

She became a founding member of Mother of God Monastery on June 15, 1961. In 1979, she began new ministries in spiritual direction and retreat work, and was the formation director for the monastery until 1987.
After a sabbatical, Emily served as retreat director at monasteries in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Richardton, ND.

S. Emily returned to the monastery in 1999, serving as the director of the spirituality center, spiritual director, and a member of the monastery vocation and formation teams. She was the Assistant Prioress from 2000 to 2005.

During her years as retreat director, S. Emily created an eight month “Journey Program” based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Masterfully, she created a series of workshops that blended beautifully into the powerful experience of the spiritual exercises.

S. Emily touched, moved, and led others to a deeper reality of the love of God; they are too numerous to count. She said, “Of all the programs that have given me the most joy in helping others the Journey and the
Inner Child have been very special.”

S. Emily is preceded in death by her parents; and siblings: Carl, Robert, George, Martin, Mary, and Erika.

She is survived by her brother, Jim and his wife, Carolyn; one sister Pauline (Polly) West; many nieces, nephews, and friends; and the Sisters of Mother of God Monastery.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Watertown, Hayti, De Smet and Bryant
www.crawfordosthus.com

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