SISTER DECHANTAL HYLAND

Sister DeChantal Hyland, OSB, of St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, entered into eternal life on February 15, 2012 at the age of 105. Sister de Chantal was born in Nazareth, Tx. on October 7, 1906 to Joseph and Frances McCormick Hyland. She entered St. Scholastica Convent in 1923 and made her monastic profession on June 24, 1925. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Marymount College, Salina, KS in 1939 and her Master’s degree in English from the University of Texas in 1947.

Sister DeChantal taught for 56 years in both public and Catholic schools in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas, including St. Ignatius, Scranton; St. Boniface, Fort Smith; St. Edward, Little Rock; Holy Rosary, Stuttgart; St. Joseph, Paris; and Immaculate Conception, Moberly, Mo. She also taught 20 years in the Nazareth, Tx. public school system. She was principal at St. Theresa, Little Rock from 1971-76 and St. Joseph, Paris from 1976-1979.

After her retirement she continued to teach part-time in the Resource Room at St. Boniface School, and continued to tutor students privately until she was 95 years old.

She continued to take an active interest in her community and the world until a few months before her death, reading the newspaper, especially the sports pages, after prayer, Mass, and breakfast each morning. She was an avid fan of the Razorbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals.

She is survived by two sisters, Sister Frances Ann Braddock, OSB of the monastery and Joyce Tingle of Arlington, Tx; one brother, Brother Gerald Hyland, SM of St. Louis, Mo. Sister DeChantal was preceded in death by her parents, seven sisters, Amy Kuster, Sister Roberta Hyland, OSB, Joan Homan, Catherine Hyland, Ruth Hyland, Maureen Schwaller and Rita Johnson; and four brothers, Pat, Bert, Father Fred and Gary.

Vespers for the dead were prayed on February 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the monastery chapel.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Scholastica Continuing Care Fund, P. O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913.Donate In Sr. DeChantal Hyland’s Memory
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