Sister Jean joined the monastery in 1959 and has worked in health care for 50 years. She began as a nurse at St. Cloud Hospital, then moved to Richfield, Utah, for two years. After Utah she relocated to Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, Minn., for two years, then attended Seattle University for graduate school.

S. Jean went back to nursing at Queen of Peace after graduation, and remained there. She moved into administration, working as the nursing service director for two years before adding some assistant administrator duties. Five years later, she began to work as assistant administrator for patient care. She took over as chief executive officer at Queen of Peace in 1977.

Since retiring five years ago, S. Jean has been on “oodles of boards and committees.” She started a Habitat for Humanity branch in New Prague and served on the Sesquicentennial Committee for the Sisters. She continues to live in New Prague as one of the “Metro Bennies,” the 10 or 12 Sisters who live in the greater area. S. Jean is celebrating another anniversary this year—30 consecutive years of exercising.