Nestled along the Minnesota River in central Minnesota, the town of Blakeley boasted breathtaking natural beauty. It was surrounded by lush forests, rolling hills, and picturesque prairies. The town was populated by mostly farmers and despite the challenges of their trade, the people of the area found solace in their shared values and the beauty of the Minnesota landscape.
It was in this beautiful place that Rose Devine was born on an 89° summer day in 1899. She was one of only two girls born in the town that year and the fifth of the eventual six children born to Robert and Ellen (Geehan).
The Devine family, led by the fervently religious matriarch Ellen, found comfort in the rituals of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the nearby town of Belle Plaine. However, the family's convictions were tested when in 1910, Rose’s older sister dared to defy tradition. Alice’s elopement with a Lutheran stirred controversy, leading to her exclusion from the family until she agreed to a Catholic marriage over two years later.
The ongoing conflict between Alice and her parents was discomforting for Rose who believed that, even though she too found peace in Catholic rituals, marrying a Lutheran was not a sin against God. It was in this moment of family discord that Rose felt a calling tugging on her heart, pulling her towards a life of devotion. It was only a few years later she embarked on a journey from her tiny town of Blakeley to the state’s bustling capital of St. Paul, joining the Catholic Sisters at the House of the Good Shepherd. It was 1918 and Rose delved into several years of fervent prayer, service and self-exploration as she prepared for her final vows in 1925.
Within the House of the Good Shepherd, Sister Euphemia (as she was now known) embraced a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Eventually she became the Eucharist Manager at Good Shepherd, overseeing the making of the hosts for all the churches in the diocese, including Sacred Heart Catholic Church where she had first realized she wanted to devote her life to faithful service.
The Sisters were occasionally able to accept visitors at the convent. The gothic castle-like building became a place of intrigue for her young grand-nieces and nephews with its hidden tunnels, beautiful gardens and tasty treats of cookies and ginger ale. They’d even get the chance to try some of the hosts Sister had made; before they had been blessed, of course.
In the late 1960s, reforms swept through the Catholic Church, loosening the rules that had bound all the Sisters for decades. She was able to revert to her birth name; and, perhaps more remarkably, the Sisters were allowed to leave the convent, a luxury that had previously only been allowed for doctor appointments. Returning to her hometown for the first time since 1918, Sister Rose found the once-familiar streets alien and the experience overwhelming. The family, however, discovered a new side of her: a vivacious personality, unleashed by the relaxed rules.
The grand-nephews and nieces reveled in her humorous escapades – from impromptu escapes in laundry trucks to frantic calls for help with tuning in the Twins Game. Sister Rose, once a symbol of solemn devotion, now emerged as a “hoot” with a penchant for orange soda pop and a trove of entertaining stories.
Despite disabling arthritis in her later years, Sister Rose peacefully passed away in early 1986. At her funeral, the convent’s halls echoed with beautiful music, creating an ethereal atmosphere. Grand-nephew Jim recalled “It was as if we had walked into heaven.” Sister Rose found her final resting place in Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, where her 1918 Letter of Intent that described why she sought a life of faithful devotion lay with her.
In the end, the spirited life of Sister Rose Devine, born in the quiet town of Blakeley, unfolded into a divine journey that touched the heavens and left a loving impression on the hearts of those who knew her best.
Memories Shared:
“Sometimes I would pick her up from the convent to bring her over for dinner and she always wanted to stop for an orange soda pop.” (Jim Petrasek, grand-nephew)
“One year she was allowed to come spend Christmas or Easter dinner with us. She loved it and we did too because she always had good stories.” (JoAnne (Petrasek) LeVasseur, grand-niece)
“One time she told us that she "escaped" the convent by hiding in the laundry truck so she could go visit her sister, Alice.” (Jim Petrasek, grand-nephew)
“One time she called me up in a panic: "Jim, Jim, you've got to come over quick . . . I can't get the TV to tune in the Twins Game!” (Jim Petrasek, grand-nephew)
“I would go with Grandma Kerkow [Rose’s sister Alice] to visit Sister Rose. We would get 7up and cookies.” (JoAnne (Petrasek) LeVasseur, grand-niece)
“When I was in first grade I thought my friends would like to see the inside of this spooky looking castle so I would take them with me. We had to announce ourselves and tell the nun in charge who you wanted to see and they would put us in a visiting room to wait until she could come. She would take us on a tour. They had a section where they made hosts for communion for the churches. Since they weren’t blessed yet we could have one to taste. We went through some tunnels to get to other parts of the castle.” (JoAnne (Petrasek) LeVasseur, grand-niece)
“From the day she entered she was not free to leave unless it was to go to a doctor appointment. Vatican II started relaxing some of the strict rules and allowed them to go outside the compound in the 60's.” (Sally (Devine) Young, niece)
“I never heard a story of how she made the decision or even how she learned about the Good Shepherd. Maybe from a priest. She was assigned the name Euphemia. It did seem to suit her. It was hard to call her Sister Rose at first when they were given back their names in the 60's.” (Sally (Devine) Young, niece)
“I loved the Blair Avenue convent, it was special as a small girl. When they moved to Hodgson Road [in late 1960s], it did not really feel welcoming to me. Lots of stone and modern furniture. No special parlors, kind of sterile. One time there she took us to lunch in their cafeteria. The chapel there was larger and all stone, cold feeling. No gardens and it was another transition for her. She didn't complain. But she did miss Blair.” (Sally (Devine) Young, niece)
“Sister Rose always wore a habit and veil, however it was not the heavy one of her beginning years. I know she said many, many prayers for all of her [family]” (Sally (Devine) Young, niece)
“She had bad arthritis and it was difficult for her to get around in her later years.” (Sally (Devine) Young, niece)
Sources:
Jane McClure, “Amherst H. Wilder Foundation,” Saint Paul Historical, accessed December 1, 2023, https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/70.
James Petrasek, conversation with Kirsi Dahl, 11 July 2023.
JoAnne (Petrasek) LeVasseur, conversation with Kirsi Dahl, 11 July 2023.
Sally (Devine) Young, “Sister Rose (Euphemia) Devine,” email to Kirsi Dahl, 5 March 2023.
Monte Abbott, MA, RPA (Director of Province Center Operations at Sisters of the Good Shepherd), “Contact Info,” email 3 March 2023.
I love the idea of including family member reminisces. A beautiful life well lived.
I love this story. She sounds like a wonderful person and fun great-grand aunt.