Mother Rosemae Pender, foundress of Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, dies during Mass celebrating 75th anniversary of profession

The founder of a religious order suffered a heart attack and died during a Mass celebrating 75 years since she first made her vows.

Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE, Mother Foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, had received the renewal of her vows during her jubilee Mass on Sunday at the Franciscan Sisters’ Chapel of St John in Meriden, Connecticut.

She then presented the Constitutions of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to Archbishop Emeritus Henry J Mansell, the principal celebrant, during the offertory procession before she collapsed.

Two hundred and sixty congregants, many of whom friends and family, were present at the Mass.

Born in September 1921 in Elgin, Illinois, she entered the the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and professed first vows in 1941.

continue at UK Catholic Herald

Mother Pender lead a contingent that split off from the La Crosse based Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, desiring to continue in the Franciscan tradition without rejecting Church teaching.  One can really only see this as a glorious sign from God, one of the most beautiful stories of faith I've ever heard....  Santa subito?

Cardinal Burke(familiar with the painful turmoil within the FSPA in the wake of Vatican II) praises the order at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in 2009:

It pleases me that today’s celebration included a presentation by Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. I have known Mother Shaun’s religious congregation for all the years of my priestly life. The consecrated life of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist is an inspired witness to the truths of our Catholic faith, especially what pertains to the Gospel of Life, and, therefore, also makes a strong contribution to the good of all citizens in our nation.

HT The Compass

Update: Some of the Facebook comments are that this is a sad event.  To devote 75 years of your life to be espoused to Christ, and then to die during the source and summit of Christian life.... ultimately this place is not our home.  We all must die, but in this case God grants us grace and consolation knowing that the time and place has such significant meaning that all is certainly not lost.  I honestly read this and thought, what a glory for this child of God.  What a confirmation of her efforts here in this world.