SR. JUDITH ANN HEBLE OSB

Sr. Judith Ann Heble, OSB The worldwide Benedictine Community will miss a giant of a visionary, prophetic, and spiritual leader. The second to the youngest in a family of seven, Sister Judith Ann was born in Stratton, Nebraska on May 11, 1942. From a one room school house in Nebraska Sister attended Sacred Heart Academy. It was here that Sister admired and was encouraged by Sister Charlotte Veseley (because she was always so happy and cheerful) to think about religious life. She entered Sacred Heart Monastery at age 17. While teaching various grades and being a Director of Adult Education, Sister pursued her college career which included a BS in history, a Master's in School Administration and in Theological Studies and post graduate studies in Israel. Her love for Scripture and Benedictine life led her to teach at St. Joan of Arc, Benedictine University, and at Sacred Heart Monastery. Her visionary leadership qualities positioned her to be chosen Prioress at Sacred Heart Monastery for 18 years, elected President of the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses for 12 years and for 16 years was the Moderator of CIB (Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum) an International organization of support for Benedictines throughout the 34 regions of the world. This position included a meeting with the Congress of Abbots (about 300 in number.) Thus, her exposure and working relationship to the larger community of Benedictines men. Here in Lisle she has been a long-term member of many Boards including: Benedictine University Board Trustee since 1995, where recently the Neff Center for Benedictine Values was named in her honor, Villa St. Benedict Board since its inception. As moderator of the CIB she was an honorary Advisory Board Member of the Beit Benedictine Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors for AIM international and since 1992 has been the Executive Secretary of the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, Diocese of Joliet. In-between and along with these positions Sister spearheaded discernment processes with her community and lay men and women that looked to our future regarding the growth of our 32-unit Queen of Peace Retirement Center to our now 285 units of dwelling places for our Villa St. Benedict Community. Her international relationships sparked the community's ministry to sponsor Benedictine sisters from Africa and Vietnam while they earned their education at Benedictine University. May she now be resting in the loving arms of the God who has always loved her. On January 30, 2023, Sister Judith Ann Heble was found to have cancer of the brain and after a series of treatments she died on June 13, 2023. There will be a wake service at Sacred Heart Monastery, 1910 Maple, Lisle at 6:30 P.M. on June 19, and her funeral will be there at 11 a.m. on June 20, with burial following in St. Scholastica Cemetery. Arrangements Entrusted to Ivins/?Moravecek Funeral Home at www.moravecek.com or 708-447-2261.