Sister Ernestine Lopez died peacefully at Benet Hill Monastery on November 7, 2011. Sister Ernestine was born in Aguilar, Colorado and was the last surviving child of Epimenia Garcia and Philip Neri Lopez. Sister Ernestine, a charter member of Benet Hill Monastery was baptized Maria Adelisia Lopez.
She entered Mt. St. Scholastica Convent on January 17, 1952 and made her monastic profession on August 15, 1953. Receiving a BA in education from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, Sister Ernestine served most of her fifty-eight years in monastic life as an elementary teacher in Iowa, Kansas and Colorado. She also ministered in parishes as a secretary, in liturgical ministries and visiting the sick and home bound. Especially dear to Sister Ernestine was her ministry to children. With great love she spoke of her students saying, “They were very humble little ones and I needed to be with them, I could hardly wait to begin each day.”
Whatever ministry Sister Ernestine was involved with, she led a life full of devotion and determination. She especially loved the liturgy of the hours. Many in her community and among her friends and family recall the particular care she took in celebrating all occasions with home-made cards. We take comfort in knowing Sister Ernestine joyfully takes her place in God’s heavenly home.
