(May 19, 1939 - November 1, 2014)
Word has been received of the death of Sister M. Arlene (Kniola), who died unexpectedly at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2014, in Moreau Convent at Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, Indiana.
Sister Arlene was an open and welcoming Sister of the Holy Cross. She never met a stranger because she approached each person with a friendly, generous spirit that was warm and embracing. This attitude was particularly true with her sisters. Just watching her enter the Church of Our Lady of Loretto for the 11 a.m. daily Mass was a lesson in love and charity. She would pause a moment at the door and then begin with the sisters using walkers seated in the outer circle of the church, greeting first one and then another with a pat on the arm, a quick hug or a kiss on the cheek or maybe just a wave; they knew she had a great love and concern for each of them. If one of the sisters seemed somewhat agitated, she was there to sooth and minister.
This same attitude colored all of Sister Arlene’s 50-plus years of active ministry. She embraced a variety of roles beginning with hospital training, which she utilized during many summers. Then she spent almost 20 years teaching in the elementary and high schools of the Midwest, endearing herself to students and parents alike. However, her final love and dedication was in pastoral care where her people skills blossomed. Sister Arlene’s many years as director of Mary’s Solitude at Saint Mary’s was a wonderful outlet for her because it gave her the opportunity to conduct retreats, give spiritual direction and prepare artistic prayer services, much to the enrichment of all the participants. Her creative leadership skills were demonstrated in the planning she did for summer retreats, organizing staff development and overseeing the scheduling of all the activities of the Solitude, where her musical ability and artful approach made the experiences memorable to those fortunate enough to be involved.
Sister Arlene’s heart was expansive. Her long friendship with Sister Joanne Becker was an example of an open and all-inclusive relationship as they shared families and friends, never excluding anyone, and one more example of Sister Arlene’s welcoming attitude. As a child her love of nature and God’s creatures was nurtured, and she lived this out her entire life — establishing small gardens as she moved from mission to mission.
The love in her heart obviously was reflected in her devotions. The Good Shepherd, gathering His flock with care, echoed Sister Arlene’s outlook as she interacted with each person in her many ministries; her love of the Blessed Mother follows this same theme. However, her special devotion to the Infant of Prague immediately calls to mind her artistic nature and the association with the elaborate robes that often adorn the statue. This devotion is a veneration of our Lord's sacred Infancy. Many saints had a very strong devotion to the Divine Child, notably St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Teresa of Avila, so Sister Arlene was in esteemed company. They no doubt greeted her when she entered the eternal kingdom. May Sister Arlene rest in peace.