Notes for Caroline VOLK

Became a Nun: Sister Edane

Sister Edane Volk, 101, a founder and the second prioress of the Benedictine
Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, entered eternal life Dec. 21,
2009, at a Bismarck care center. By virtue of her role as prioress, she was
also the first president of the University of Mary when it began in 1959. Mass
of Christian Burial will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, in the chapel of
Annunciation Monastery.
Visitation starts at 3 p.m. Saturday at the monastery and continues until the
time of the funeral. A wake service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at the
monastery.
Sister Edane (Caroline), the youngest of 12 children of Joseph and Francisca
(Miller) Volk, was born Oct. 12, 1908, in Rugby.
She entered St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., in 1926, and made
monastic profession on July 11, 1928. With the love of music in her heart, she
spent the next 25 years teaching music and playing the organ in schools and
churches in Dickinson and Mandan.
In 1953, she was elected prioress of Annunciation Monastery, a position she
held until 1966. Under her leadership, the Benedictines built a new monastery
designed by noted architect Marcel Breuer, began the University of Mary,
staffed a number of Catholic schools and opened rural hospitals. There were
also expansion projects at St. Alexius Medical Center and Garrison Memorial
Hospital.
“It is the Lord’s work,” she often said. “But we have to do our part
by donating not only our work but also our lives to God.”
As prioress she was grounded in her love for monastic life and deeply reliant
on the sustaining grace of God. She recognized others’ gifts and graciously
delegated authority to sisters she appointed to various positions. An even
temperament, a gentle and pleasant personality and firmness in self-discipline
made her a trusted community leader.
After her tenure as prioress, Sister Edane taught private piano lessons at the
Cathedral Music Studio and lived with the sisters at St. Alexius Medical
Center where she was organist.
In 1987, she retired to the monastery where she volunteered wherever she could
and spent her time in prayer ministry. She will be remembered with gratitude
by her monastic community.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Annunciation
Monastery