Sister Judith Ann Heble, OSB
May 11, 1942 — June 13, 2023.
The worldwide Benedictine Community will miss a giant of a visionary, prophetic, and spiritual leader. The second to the youngest in a family of seven, Sister Judith Ann was born in Stratton, Nebraska on May 11, 1942.
From a one room school house in Nebraska Sister attended Sacred Heart Academy. It was here that Sister admired and was encouraged by Sister Charlotte Veseley (because she was always so happy and cheerful) to think about religious life. She entered Sacred Heart Monastery at age 17 and made Monastic Profession on July 1, 1961. While teaching various grades and being a Director of Adult Education, Sister pursued her college career which included a BS in history, a Master’s in School Administration and in Theological Studies and post graduate studies in Israel.
Her love for Scripture and Benedictine life led her to teach at St. Joan of Arc, Benedictine University, and at Sacred Heart Monastery.
Her visionary leadership qualities positioned her to be chosen Prioress at Sacred Heart Monastery for 18 years, elected President of the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses for 12 years and for 12 years was the Moderator of CIB (Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum) an International organization of support for Benedictines throughout the world. This position included meetings with the international Congress of Abbots. Thus, her exposure and working relationship to the larger community of Benedictines men.
Here in Lisle she has been a long-term member of many Boards including: Benedictine University Board Trustee since 1995, where recently the Neff Center for Benedictine Values was named in her honor, Villa St Benedict Board since its inception. As moderator of the CIB she was an honorary Advisory Board Member of the Beit Benedictine Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors for AIM International and since 1992 has been the Executive Secretary of the Board of Conciliation and Arbitration, Diocese of Joliet.
In-between and along with these positions Sister spearheaded discernment processes with her community and lay men and women that looked to our future regarding the growth of our 32-unit Queen of Peace Retirement Center to our now 285 units of dwelling places for our Villa St Benedict Community.
Her international relationships sparked the community’s ministry to sponsor Benedictine sisters from Africa and Vietnam while they earned their education at Benedictine University.
May she now be resting in the loving arms of the God who has always loved her.
On January 30, 2023 Sister Judith Ann Heble was found to have cancer of the brain and after a series of treatments she died on June 13, 2023.
