Sister Michaea Byron

1927 - 2015

Sister Michaea Byron, 87

Rochester

Aug. 7, 1927 - Feb. 1, 2015

Sister Michaea Byron, 87, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, died at Assisi Heights on Sunday, February 1, 2015.

Marian Rose Byron was born August 7, 1927, in Waseca, Minnesota, to Arthur and Marian (Burns) Byron. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1945 from Saint Mary Parish, Waseca County. Sister Michaea made first vows in 1948 and perpetual vows in 1951. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Food/Nutrition from the College of St. Teresa, Winona, MN, in 1954, a Master's Degree in Home Economics Education from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, in 1955, and in 1973 she received a PhD in Education/Anthropology from the University of Minnesota.

Sister Michaea served nearly five decades in educational and admin-istrative roles. She also served the Franciscan Sisters as director of postulants, director of the juniorate for Sisters with first vows, and as a member of the congre-gation's leadership Council for several terms.

In 1985, the Board of Trustees of the College of Saint Teresa (CST) elected Sister Michaea to serve as the seventh president of the College, a position she held until the College closed in 1989. Among the many positions that helped prepare her for her new leadership role as president of the College were thirty years (1955-1985) of teaching at CST, where she also served as chair of the Home Economics Department. Sister Michaea served on various councils, committees and programs of the College, as well as the local Winona areas: Saint Anne Hospice Board member and Chair, Saint Marys Hospital Board of Sponsor-ship, and Chaplain Service - Winona Community Hospital. In addition, she served as a volunteer for Tri-County Poverty program, Winona Area Hospice, Winona Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and Family Literacy Program.

Following her years at CST, Sister Michaea was Co-Director and Founder of Parish Nurses Partnership of Central Minnesota and served on advisory boards for Faith in Action, Aging Net- work, Central MN Council on Aging, and North Central MN Parish Nurse Ministry. She also helped facilitate the integration of St. Cloud Hospital and Clinic as it formed the CentraCare Health System.

Sister Michaea is survived by her Franciscan Community with whom she shared life for sixty-nine years and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Walter Byron and Frank Byron, and a sister Kathleen Bielinski.

A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, February 6, 2015 at 11:00 o'clock in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes at Assisi Heights, Rochester. A Prayer Service, followed by Visitation, will be at 9:00 am Friday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Rochester.

Memorials are suggested to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Development, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.