SISTER AUDREY BECKER

Sister Audrey Becker, age 89, died August 13, 2020, at Chapel Ridge Health and Rehab in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The family of Aloysius and Regina (Schmitz) Becker welcomed their daughter, Mildred Loraine Elizabeth, into their family on October 5, 1930 in Paris, Arkansas. The death of her mother when she was a young girl had a lasting impact on her life. Upon being received at St. Scholastica Convent on June 24, 1947 she took the name Sister Mary Audrey Becker. Sister Audrey was a member of the monastic community for seventy-four years. She taught at St. Meinrad’s School in Prairie View, St. Winand’s School in McGhee, Sts. Peter and Paul School in Morrison Bluff, St. Vincent DePaul School in Rogers, St. Vincent’s School in Hattieville, St. Mary’s School in Altus, St. Boniface School in Fort Smith, and St. Joseph School in Paris, Arkansas. She also taught at St. Gabriel School in Kansas City and St. Francis De Sales School in Lebanon, Missouri, as well as St. Martin De Porres School in Amarillo, and Nazareth School in Nazareth, Texas. As a young sister, in first profession, she served her community as sacristan. Following a forty year teaching career Sister Audrey served as Assistant to the Director of St. Scholastica Center. From 2001 until 2015, she served as the monastery Secretary/Treasurer. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education at Quincy College in Quincy, IL and her Master’s Degree in religious education at Loyola University in Chicago, IL. Sister Audrey enjoyed cooking; one favorite recipe included her famous cashew chicken. She excelled at computers, and various kinds of arts and crafts. She was gifted in growing Christmas cactus plants. She was close to her family and loved to share stories of her many experiences. One of her stories was of her year of teaching 72 first graders at St. Boniface in the 1950’s. She liked peanut butter, Native American dream-catchers, Payday candy bars and playing games on her laptop. She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Elizabeth (Schmitz) Becker; three brothers, Wilfred, Kenneth, and Steven Becker her sister, Pat Brannon; her sister-in-law, Nancy Becker; and her brothers-in-law, Arland Perkins and Jerry Sax. She is survived by a brother, David Becker; her four sisters, Fran Perkins, Jean and Dr. Charles Holman, Jr. Deloris Sax, Glenda and Don Barnett, her sisters-in-law, Doris Becker and Lisa Becker; her many beloved nieces and nephews; and members of her Benedictine family.

Mass for Christian Burial for Sister Audrey will be held at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary in Fort Smith.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to St. Scholastica Monastery Continuing Care Fund, 1315 S. Albert Pike Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72903.Donate In Sr. Audrey Becker’s Memory
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