Sister Mary Elaine Willett, a member of the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters of Holy Angels Convent for 71 years, died March 28. She was 85.
Born Florence Helen to Joe and Rose Freppon Willett in Jonesboro Jan. 28, 1940, Sister Elaine was torn between entering religious life and becoming a nurse like her mother. She entered Holy Angels Convent in 1954 while attending Holy Angels Academy, making her first vows in 1957 and her final vows in 1962.
Sister Elaine would go on to receive a bachelor’s degree in nursing and would serve in hospitals in Arkansas and Louisiana before teaching nursing at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
After spending four years as a missionary in Mexico, she was asked to help establish a ministry to Hispanics in Northeast Arkansas. In 1997, she founded Hispanic Community Services Center Inc. (which is now known as El Centro Hispano), where she served as executive director until 2005.
During her years in Hispanic ministry, she translated for several organizations in the area. She continued to work in Hispanic Ministry at Blessed Sacrament Parish until her retirement in 2016.
She is survived by one brother, George Willett, and her extended family.
A visitation was held at Holy Angels Convent April 1, with the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated April 2.
