Johanna (Lucille) Becker, OSB

Johanna (Lucille) Becker
St. Joseph
December 17, 1921-September 22, 2012

The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26, 2012, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., for Sister Johanna Becker who died on September 22, 2012, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Inurnment will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Tuesday, September 25, from l-6 p.m., or for a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Wednesday, September 26, at 4 p.m.

Lucille Becker was born on December 17, 1921, to Arthur and Irene (Keil) Becker, their only child.  She attended Holy Family grade and high school in Denver.  On December 2, 1948, she came to Saint Benedict’s Monastery; here she made her first monastic profession on July 11, 1950, and perpetual profession on July 11, 1953.

S. Johanna began her long career in art with a BFA degree in art with accompanying honors, from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MA in studio art at Ohio State University in Columbus; she also attended Regis College in Denver. Before entering Saint Benedict’s Monastery, she taught and was chairperson of the art department at Maryville College, Mo., and taught at Illinois State University. Later she added an MA and a PhD in art and art history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She attended Institutes of Indian civilization at the University of Mysore, India, and  pursued studies in Asian art in India and Japan.

When S. Johanna came to Saint Benedict’s, she taught art at Cathedral High school for three years.  For many years she taught art and Asian studies at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. While caring for her parents for three years, she wrote a book on Asian Art, Karatsu Ware: A Tradition of Diversity (1986). Over the years (1968-94), she lectured on Japanese art, sometimes also on spirituality, not only in the U.S., but overseas as well, including Spain, France, England and Ireland. On returning to Saint Benedict’s in 1987, she continued as a professor of art and department chair; her many and varied activities included various board memberships, as well as in Studium, Project Global 2000, Monastic Interreligious Dialogue Committee, and World Justice/New Jubilee Committee.

In 2005, the honor of professor emeritus of the College of Saint Benedict, was bestowed on her. Also, she was one of the consultants for the Saint John’s Bible project undertaken at Saint John’s University.

In March 2008, S. Johanna retired to Saint Scholastica Convent.

S. Johanna is survived by the Sisters of her Benedictine community, many cousins and friends.

Please direct memorial gifts to the care of the elderly Sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Thank you.