The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Brian Spain who died on April 23, 2009, at Saint Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Monday, April 27, from 1−6 p.m., or for a prayer vigil at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the funeral on Tuesday, April 23, at 4 p.m.

S. Brian (Connie), the only child of Charles and Ruby (Lealos) Spain, was born on December 4, 1925, in East Grand Forks, Minn. She entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery in 1947, made her first monastic profession on July 11, 1949 and perpetual profession on July 11, 1952. 

She attended Sacred Heart Elementary and two years of high school in East Grand Forks, and graduated from St. James Academy in Grand Forks, N.D.  After a B.A. degree in sociology from the College of Saint Benedict, she earned an M.S. degree in counseling at St. Cloud State University. She completed additional studies in religion, education and counseling.
 
Teaching and school administration were S. Brian’s ministry from 1949−1961 at Holy Angels in St. Cloud, St. Joseph Lab School, St. Peter’s in Browerville, and at St. Benedict’s High School. She was director of postulants at the monastery for 11 years. In a 28-year ministry at the College of Saint Benedict, S. Brian touched the lives of many students, as well as those of others in the college and local community. Here she served as faculty resident, director of residence life, resident staff coordinator, counselor, and Benedictine values consultant. After retirement from the college, she provided hospitality at Art and Heritage Place until 2005 when she moved to Saint Scholastica Convent. 

S. Brian was awarded the Brian Klinefelter Service Award. The Brian Spain Scholarship Award and a college residence, Brian Hall, are named for her.  

S. Brian is survived by the Sisters of her Benedictine community, cousins and friends.  Her parents preceded her in death. Please direct memorial gifts to the Vocation Fund at Saint Benedict’s Monastery.