Sister Haroldine Malinowski, O.S.B., 97, a Benedictine sister of Saint Bede Monastery, in Eau Claire, died Saturday, January 10, 2009, at Clairemont Nursing and Rehabilitation.Born August 14, 1911, in Superior, WI, to parents John and Elizabeth (Franckiewicz)Malinowski, Sister Haroldine was the seventh of nine children which included five brothers and three sisters. \r\nMotivated by a cousin, at an early age, to become a Benedictine sister, Sister Haroldine attended St. Benedict's High School in St. Joseph, MN, where she entered the community in August of 1929. She was received as a postulant in 1930. Sister Haroldine made her First Profession in July, 1931. She celebrated her Golden Anniversary in 1981 and enjoyed community, family and friends as she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1991. In 1948 Sister became a charter member of Saint Bede Monastery when the community was founded in Eau Claire. Sister Haroldine received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Viterbo College in La Crosse in 1963, and obtained a Permanent Teaching Certificate in the Diocese of La Crosse while continuing her education in Eau Claire, Madison, Duluth and St. Paul. Her career expanded over 42 years of teaching primary grades which she loved, in schools which included Altoona, Eau Claire, Ellsworth, La Crosse, and Richland Center in Wisconsin. Sister also taught in Little Falls, Cold Spring and Sobieski in Minnesota.\r\nFollowing her retirement from teaching in the classroom, she taught English to Hmong children for seven years and in 1984 was honored by the local Hmong Mutual Assistance Association for extensive dedicated service to the Eau Claire Hmong Community. Sister Haroldine also assumed charge of the community laundry in which she took great pride. She was a flower/plant lover and enjoyed the feeling of dirt through her fingers. Always keeping her hands busy, Sister kept many people warm with her knitted scarves, caps and mittens. Reading was a must on her list of activities. Organized as she was, she kept two lists ongoing: 'Books I Have Read' and 'Things I Have Made.' Both lists were current up to her last few years. She remained active in the Retired Senior VolunteerProgram in Eau Claire. Her pastime eventually dwindled to visiting, sharing stories andwatching TV. \r\nLong ago on a trip taken to Beaver Creek Reserve Sister Haroldine became excited and thrilled about the wonderful new butterfly house she had seen. "I close my eyes and still see butterflies, lots and lots of butterflies." May they continue to flutter, delighting her happiness in the Heavenly Kingdom.\r\nSister Haroldine is survived by one sister, Sister DeSales Malinowski, O.S.F., of Little Falls, MN, many nieces and nephews, and her Benedictine Community.Preceding her in death besides her parents were her 5 bothers: Andrew, Romaldy, Frank, Victor, Edward and 2 sisters, Anna and Jadwiga. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Bede Monastery on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 11 a.m. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Monastery and one hour prior to Mass, Wednesday, at the Monastery. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Eau Claire. Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home is serving the St. Bede Community.

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