Sarah Ann Braig, BVM

Sarah Ann Braig, BVM died Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. Visitation will be from 9–11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in the Marian Hall Chapel followed by a prayer service at 11 a.m. Funeral liturgy will be at 1:30 p.m. Burial is in the Mount Carmel cemetery.

She was born in Dubuque on March 16, 1943, to Wayne and Mildred Nicks Braig. She entered the BVM congregation July 31, 1965, from St. Joseph Parish, Dubuque. She professed first vows on Feb. 2, 1968, and final vows on Feb. 2, 1975.

Sarah served as nurse aide at Mount Carmel and St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque. She taught first grade in Antioch, Ill. In Oregon, she taught first grade in Portland and worked as nurse aide in Marylhurst. She was nursing assistant, activities assistant, and caregiver in St. Louis; and child care center teacher in Webster Groves, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by brothers Thomas (Trudy), Albuqerque, N.M., and James (Karla), Dubuque, Iowa; sister Betsy Ann Cerutti (Roger), Madison, Wis.; nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with whom she shared life for 50 years.

Sister Sarah Ann Braig, BVM
Funeral Welcome
Marian Hall, Feb. 5, 2016

Good afternoon and welcome to the celebration of life of our Sister Sarah Ann Braig.

Sarah Ann Braig was born on March 16, 1943, in Dubuque, Iowa, to Wayne and Mildred Nicks Braig. She joined siblings Betsy and Thomas and was followed by a brother James. Sarah was 12 years old when her mother died. Although she experienced this and many other difficulties in her life, Sarah always had a sense of joy in the Lord for she knew the words found in the Book of Jeremiah: “I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

In the years that followed, her relationship with her father deepened. She would spend every summer with him and they would go fishing together. It was a bond that lasted throughout his long life.

Sarah attended St. Joseph Grade School and St. Joseph Academy. She graduated from Wahlert HS and Clarke University before answering the call to religious life. She entered the congregation on July 31, 1965, and was received on July 2, 1966. A former set member commented that “she made the early days much easier with her humor and kindness.” Sarah professed first vows on Feb. 2, 1968, and lived 50 years as a BVM.

Sarah taught first grade at St. Peter in Antioch, Ill., and St. Clare in Portland, Ore. She also taught at the Grow & Learn Child Care Center in Webster Groves, Mo. But her true calling, the one that she loved deeply, was her ministry to the elderly infirm. She served as a nurse assistant at the Holy Name Care Center in Marylhurst, Ore.; the Jesuit Hall-Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis, Mo; and the St. Dominic Villa and Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was the assistant to the activities director at Mary Queen & Mother Center in St. Louis and ministered with CSJ Care, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, providing a variety of home services that enabled her clients to remain in their homes.

Sarah loved people and was full of joy when helping others. She often used games and music to encourage her clients to do their physical therapy. Her warm, gentle, loving kindness made her a soothing presence, a blessing of pleasure and peace.

Sarah loved her life in St. Louis. She was an active member of the St. Francis Xavier College Church and greatly enjoyed the fellowship and the liturgical music. She was connected with the Emmaus community. She looked forward to the St. Louis cluster gatherings, especially the annual Super Bowl party.

Of course, a love of baseball combined with living in St. Louis could only mean one thing—she was an avid Cardinals fan. She enthusiastically watched the games and cheered on her team along with friends in her apartment building. The residents regularly socialized together, gathering for meals and card games. She found it very difficult to leave her friends when health issues forced her to move to Dubuque in 2013, but she accepted it with grace.

Sarah was a gentle soul, a friendly spirit, a loving person. She enjoyed conversing with everyone and showed kindness and acceptance to all. She had a big warm smile, a happy heart, a good sense of humor and a wonderfully infectious laugh. How easy it was to get her to laugh! She was an independent personality who lived a profound simplicity. She was down-to-earth and practical and yet, she could demonstrate a solid resolve with feisty determination.

Sarah deeply loved her family and friends. She was grateful for even the smallest kindness and for her brother Jim, whose care and concern brought joy to her days at Mount Carmel. Celebrating her Golden Jubilee last summer surrounded by family and friends was a great highlight in her life.

Sarah loved music, especially the symphony and singing. At times her beautiful voice would spontaneously break into songs of praise. The words of the song “How Can I Keep from Singing?” aptly and beautifully describe Sarah and the way she lived her life.

Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing;
It sounds and echoes in my soul;
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to the rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

Sarah’s beautiful voice has joined the heavenly chorus. As we celebrate her entrance into eternal life, may we keep her song alive in our hearts.