Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sister M. Rafaelia Brower CSC

Apr. 3, 1894 – Apr. 4, 1979

South Bend Tribune 4/5/1979

Sister M. Rafaelia Brower CSC, 85, died Wednesday in Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame, after a short illness. Born on April 3, 1894 in Jackson, Mich., as Winifred Brower, she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Mary’s on Feb. 4, 1913, She was received as a novice on July 16, 1913 and made her profession of vows on Aug. 15, 1915. During her professional life she taught in elementary schools in Indiana, Illinois, Texas Pennsylvania and Virginia. From 1937-47 she served as assistant at St. Mary’s Novitiate, Notre Dame and then returned to teaching. In 1951 she became the purchasing director at Mount Carmel Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio where she remained until 1968 when she was transferred in the same capacity to St. Mary’s Convent. Illness forced her retirement in January.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Loretto Church with burial in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, St. Mary’s. Friends may call after 4 p.m. in the parlors at the convent where a wake service will be at 7 p.m.