Sr. Cecile (Muriel) Baer

Sister Cecile (Muriel) Baer, OSB, 93, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, IL, passed away Sunday November 21, 2021 at the monastery.

A private live-streamed Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 29, in the Chapel of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island. The Mass will be streamed through the Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery Facebook page. A private visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, at the monastery, with a private Christian wake service at 7:00 p.m. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan, IL, is assisting with arrangements

She was born in Peoria, IL, daughter to Cecil and Florence (Roach) Baer.  Cecile attended grade school at St. Boniface School, Peoria, and high school at St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, IL.   

Sr. Cecile graduated with a bachelor’s degree from St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, a master’s degree and Certificate for learning disability teaching from the University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, and a Certificate of Theology from St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin.  She entered the community on October 23, 1946 and made her perpetual profession on August 23, 1951.     

She was a teacher at Ivesdale, Bradford, Clinton, Illinois, and Munster, Indiana.  Sr. Cecile was a principal at St. Boniface South Side Catholic Grade School, Father Sweeney School, Peoria and Development Director at St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Illinois. She was a founding member of SPEC (Special People Encounter Christ), Moline, and served as Assistant to the Treasurer and Director of Transportation for her religious community.     

She is survived by her Benedictine Sisters, her sister, Gloria Christian, her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Edward and Mike; and a sister, Marianne Dempsey.

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