Sister Norma (Adelaide) Evans, BVM

Sister Norma (Adelaide) Evans, BVM, 93, died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, Mount Carmel Bluffs-Gables, Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation, the Sharing of Memories and Mass of Christian Burial were on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Burial was in the Mount Carmel cemetery. Services may be viewed at:

Sister Eleanor Craggs, BVM, 101, died Sunday, March 31, 2024, at Mount Carmel Bluffs-Gables, Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation, the Sharing of Memories and Mass of Christian Burial were on Thursday, April 4, 2024. Burial was in the Mount Carmel cemetery. Services may be viewed at: https://stream.prestosports.com/bvmsisters.

Sister Eleanor was born on April 22, 1922, in Chicago to William and Eleanor (Bittner) Craggs. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1943, from St. Jerome Parish, Chicago. She professed first vows on March 19, 1946, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.

Sister Eleanor was a teacher at St. Philip ES in Pasadena, Calif., St. Leo ES in San José, Calif., and Bishop Garcia Diego HS in Santa Barbara, Calif. She ministered as principal at St. Paul HS, San Francisco and vice-principal, French teacher, and development director at Holy Family HS in Glendale, Calif. She served the congregation as a postulant mistress in Los Gatos, Calif.

“For a postulant’s point of view, Sister Kathy Carr wrote, ‘Eleanor was very caring, had a good sense of humor, and was flexible with us. This was a time of ‘change’ in formation techniques. One thought at the time was to let postulants ‘grow into’ the need for silence, rather than imposing it from the beginning. Alas, our group was quite extroverted, and eventually we had to be given more direct guidance on this matter! But Sister Eleanor handled our boisterous ways with great calm and patience.’” (Eulogy, Mary Frances Clarke Chapel, April 4, 2024).

She was preceded in death by her parents She is survived by the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 80 years.

Sister Norma was born on Jan. 20, 1931, in Penalosa, Kans., to John and Lillian (Jones) Evans. She entered the BVM congregation Sept. 8, 1948, from St. Patrick Parish, Kingman, Kans. She professed first vows on March 19, 1951, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

Sister Norma was an elementary teacher at St. John the Baptist in Peosta, Iowa, St. Mary in Waucoma, Iowa; St. Francis Xavier and Annunciation in Kansas City, Mo.; St. Bernard in Los Angeles; and St. Joseph in Wichita, Kans., where she also ministered as learning center director, school librarian, and tutor. She served as a school secretary and bookkeeper at St. Paul in San Francisco.

“At the time of her golden jubilee, Norma commented, ‘I have stayed in religious life because my life has been richly blessed and I have been happy. As I look back . . . I rejoice and marvel at the growth experiences, the blessings, and the ways the Lord and His Blessed Mother have been the designers through it all. It has been a time to give praise and thanks.’” (Eulogy).

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Sister Mary Ann Evans, BVM, John (Jeannie) Evans, and Donna (Lewis) Noblit. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 75 years.

Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, BVM, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or make an online gift.