Sister Mabel Meng, 93, passed away Monday, February 24, 2020 at Marian Residence in Alliance, NE.
She was born on May 21, 1926 at Mansfield, Nebraska, a community in northern Sioux County near Ardmore, SD, to George and Johanna (Mader) Meng. She was baptized at the Church of St. Aloysius in Ardmore.
Sister Mabel followed the Lord’s call to the Sisters of St. Francis and entered as a candidate at Marycrest Convent in Denver on September 1, 1945. She professed her vows on August 16, 1947 and took the name of Sr. M. Aloysius. Later in her ministry she would change her name to Sister Mabel.
She began as a teacher at St. Francis Mission, SD from 1947 to 1952. At that time she continued her education at St. Mary’s College in Xavier, KS with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics in 1954. She then received her degree as a Registered Nurse from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Minot, ND in 1960 and then a B.S. degree in nursing from Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI in 1961. She continued with a Master’s Degree in Nursing from Catholic University of American in Washington, DC in 1962.
From 1962 to 1965 she was a nursing instructor at St. Francis School of Nursing in Minot, ND. In 1965 she became the Director of School of Nursing 3 year program and the first Director at Minot State College of BSN nursing program serving there until 1975. Following a 2 year assignment as a clinical supervisor in St. Louis, MO she would then move to Alliance in 1977. Here she would work as Director of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Gerontology Center and later as Inservice Director. In 1989 when St. Joseph’s transitioned into Highland Park Care Center, Sister Mabel continued there as Staff Development Coordinator until January 31, 2000. Sister Mabel would then continue in her local ministry through Holy Rosary Church and Marian Residence until retiring in 2017.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Albert and Frederick, and her sisters, Christine Kruse, Betty Nozicka, Catherine Strattman and Martha Hoevet. In addition to her Franciscan family she is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, February 29 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Tim Stoner officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. A wake service will be Friday, Feb. 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Marian Chapel.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.