Sister Macrina Winter, 95, died at Villa Saint Vincent on May 20, 2009.
Dorothy Marie Winter was born in Spring Hill, MN, the second of ten children in the family of William and Helena (Laubach) Winter. When Dorothy was five years old, she moved with her family to Thief River Falls, MN where they lived for five years. When their farm buildings were destroyed by a flood in 1923, the family moved to Mahnomen, MN.
Because only German was spoken in her home, Dorothy could not speak English when she started school. Dorothy and her older sister Irene later taught their parents, brothers and sisters to speak English. At age 20 when she became acquainted with the Sisters of Saint Benedict who taught at Saint Michael’s School in Mahnomen, she felt drawn to religious life. Her parents encouraged her to follow her vocation. On August 15, 1946, she joined the Sisters of Saint Benedict in Crookston where she was given the name, Sister Macrina. She made her permanent monastic profession at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery in 1951.
Convinced that whatever work assigned to her was important as long as it is done for love of God, Sister Macrina was open to any assignment. She served as cook, housekeeper and sacristan at convents in Saint Paul, Mahtomedi and Mahnomen. At Saint Francis Hospital and at Mount Saint Benedict Academy in Crookston, she held the position of cafeteria supervisor. She also served as seamstress and as hostess for guests at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery. After attending ministry classes at Mount Saint Benedict Center, she received a certificate in ministry and used her education to minister in Saint Michael’s Parish, Mahnomen.
For many years Sister Macrina was in charge of the candle department at Mount Saint Benedict where she used her artistic ability to produce beautifully decorated paschal, wedding and novelty candles. She made many candles for special occasions such as baptisms, birthdays, confirmations and anniversaries.
Failing health caused Sister Macrina to become a resident of Mount Saint Benedict Health Center, and then to move to Villa Saint Vincent in 2004. Sister Macrina’s ministry as a resident in Mount Saint Benedict Health Center was prayer. In her words, "Praying together the Liturgy of the Hours is just as important as doing, in holy obedience, whatever is asked of me." She believed that she had already received some of the hundred-fold promised to those who dedicate their lives to the service of God.
Sister Macrina was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Leo and Edward, and sisters Irene Kirchner and Verena johnson. She is survived by three brothers, Elmer of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Joseph of Minneapolis and Richard of Princeton, MN and by two sisters, Rose Dorff of Audubon, MN and Helen Lusian of Fridley, MN; several nieces and nephews and the members of Mount Saint Benedict Monastery.
Visitation for Sister Macrina will be on Saturday, May 23, in the chapel at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery beginning at 5:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Msgr. Roger Grundhaus will be the celebrant and homilist at the Mass of Christian Burial on Sunday, May 24 at 2:00, P.M..
Memorials in honor of Sister Macrina Winter may be given to Mount Saint Benedict Foundation, 620 Summit Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716.
Crookston, Minn. —
