Sister Mary Cleta Bakewell 1892 –1958

BAKEWELL, PHILLIPPI

Posted By: A. Bruce Owens (email)
Date: 1/2/2011 at 17:41:42

Sister M Cleta Bakewell
1892 –1958

Kathryn * Bakewell (Sister M. Cleta) the youngest of the five children of John and Catherine Phillippi Bakewell was born near Lansing, Iowa on August 21, 1892. Her parents were both residents of Lansing. Mrs. Bakewell, a pious mother, consecrated all her children to the Blessed Virgin before their birth, and further offered them to God to serve Him in the religious state if He so desired. It was Kathryn, one of the five whom God accepted. She had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother, which was undoubtedly the blessing of her consecration and the inspiration for her religious vocation.

When she was sixteen, a mission held in her parish and particularly the Holy Hour which closed the week’s exercises, deeply impressed her and it was at this Holy Hour that she definitely decided her vocation to the religious life. The following May 24, she entered the St. Rose Convent to become a Franciscan Sister of the Perpetual Adoration.

On July 5, 1911, she received the habit of the novice and the name Sister M. Cleta. Two years later she made her first profession - July 2, 1913.

The talent for drawing was certainly inborn and not acquired and Sister Cleta was one of our Convent artists. Many of the oil paintings on the walls of St. Rose Convent are her works. Sister Cleta also taught in both the elementary and high school of out community.

In the early fall of 1956, Sister Cleta suffered from a distressed feeling in the abdomen. She went to the hospital and on Nov. 23 had surgery. Cancer was discovered and from that time on, Sister Cleta knew that death was no too far distant. Her spirit of resignation was beautiful. During the 14 mos. Of her hospitalization, she was ever preparing for that day which would be her last. Significant it is that even her memorial card were planned by her and prepared for the printer. On Jan. 14 ’58 about 11:30 a.m., she received Extreme Unction. At 5:00 or after she ate a little supper and at 5:50 was a corpse. Her funeral was held on Friday, January 17.
R.I.P.

* Baptismal certificate has “Catharine Margaret”

~Typed from a hand written obituary from the FSPA (Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration) archives. Author unknown

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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