Eleanor Rita Anna Nordhus was born on a farm in Seneca, Kansas on November 7, 1927 and baptized the following day. She was the oldest of nine children, five boys and four girls, of her parents, Leo H. and Nora (Haverkamp) Nordhus. Norita's first year in school was class in a one-room country school with two boys in the first grade and one girl in the third grade. One of the boys, Robert Deters, became a Benedictine monk at Atchison, Kansas. The remainder of her school education came at St. Mary's parish school in St. Benedict, Kansas. Between her freshman and sophomore years she remained at home to help her mother who was expecting another child. After high school graduation, she attended Mt. St. Scholastica College in Atchison for one year, then again remained at home to be with her mother who was expecting another child. After a summer trip to California, a gift from her father, she had one more semester in college and a summer school session before leaving for the convent.
Norita entered at Clyde on the Feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1949, was invested on May 20,1950, and professed first vows on May 20,1951 receiving the name Sr. M. Trinitas. In February 1954 she was one of the twelve pioneers at our new foundation in San Diego, returning to Clyde for one year before her final profession of vows on November 9, 1956. During her first ten years in the monastery she helped in the Church vestment department. Having lived in all our monasteries, she served as portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit & Life, spiritual director, seamstress, bookkeeper, and subprioress .
She helped initiate the Benedictine Oblate Program for our Congregation. Her educational interests included studies in Creative Writing, Philosophy, Art Design, Spiritual Formation, Psychology, Theology, and Art. Always reaching out to expand her knowledge, to stretch her mind, she was thrilled with the opportunity of one semester of study at St. Louis University as a guest of Fr. Futrell, SJ, for training in giving directed retreats. Before this she suffered an attack of appendicitis which brought her to death's door, but "for some reason the door wasn't opened." While in Tucson, Sr. M. Trinitas' persistent desire to finish college urged her to work for a B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Arizona. Her works of art are treasured in our monasteries: tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in the St. Louis monastery the large mural on our basement walls.
After participating in the Wholistic Growth Resources Program in Minnesota, Sr. M. Trinitas began an inner journey that would lead her on a "vision quest." On July 19, 1990 she began three years exclaustration while living and working in California. Her trust in God's provident care was deepened, and also challenged in unexpected ways! In August 1992 she became very ill, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and underwent surgery. The next two months were, in her words," a time of healing, a time to put closure on many things, a time for reflection and prayer." During these months she continued to give painting lessons to a few college people and friends, and some spiritual direction. In October 1992, she moved to Kansas to be near her family and have some quality time with them. When Sr. M. Trinitas decided to return to community, she was lovingly and warmly welcomed home.
She moved into St. Benedict Health Care Community at the St. Louis Monastery in January 1993. The next two years were marked with patient waiting. When told that she did not have long to live, Sr. M. Trinitas was ready to accept death, and was longing for that final communion with her God. But the agony of uncertainty and waiting was prolonged. She continued to participate in the liturgy of the hours, helped care for the vigil lights in chapel, and was present to us with her characteristic smile of serenity radiating from her face.
As we celebrated the sacred triduum, Sr. M. Trinitas, whose resurrection was imminent, imaged the gentle suffering Christ in her own paschal mystery. On Easter Tuesday she was still conscious, but too weak for a smile to break through until early the next morning when she passed from death to her glorious resurrection on April 19, 1995.
A gifted artist, she left, on the canvas of our lives, sketches of a gentle, loving presence, a peaceful smile of patience in the midst of suffering and waiting, a beautiful Self-portrait of her God. In the end, she taught us "the art of dying" through her life-giving presence in the face of the mystery of death.
Thank you, God,
for hands that touch
the rainbow in the sky
and then reach deeply
into the human spirit
to reproduce those shades
of joy and hope and peace.
(Marietta Crahanyosb)
The Courier-Tribune
Seneca, Kansas
April 26, 1995
Sister Trinitas Nordhus, 67, died April 19, 1995, in St. Benedict Health Care Center at St. Louis Monastery.
Norita Nordhus was born November 7, 1927, the oldest child of Leo and Nora Haverkamp Nordhus. She was educated at St. Mary's, St. Benedict Grade and High School. Norita entered the Benedictine Convent at Clyde, Missouri, on October 30, 1949, Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and professed her final vows November 9, 1956. During her years in the monastery she wored in the church vestement department, as a portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit and Life Magazine, as a spiritual director and as a bookkeeper. She was involved with starting the Benedictine Oblate Program and was a gifted artist. Some of works were tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in St. Louis, a mural covering the basement walls.
In 1992, she became ill and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Sister Trinitas is survived by her mother, Nora Nordhus; sisters and brothers, Leona Siess, Topeka, KS; Mary Beth Vondenkamp and David Nordhus, Seneca, KS; Albert Nordhus and Larry Nordhus, Centralia, KS; Clarence Nordhus, Baileyville, KS; and Florion Nordhus, Connell, WA.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leo Nordhus, in March 1993, and her sister, Celine Chu in August, 1990.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Louis Chapel on April 21, 1995, and in Clyde on April 22, 1995, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Clyde Monastery.
Norita entered at Clyde on the Feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1949, was invested on May 20,1950, and professed first vows on May 20,1951 receiving the name Sr. M. Trinitas. In February 1954 she was one of the twelve pioneers at our new foundation in San Diego, returning to Clyde for one year before her final profession of vows on November 9, 1956. During her first ten years in the monastery she helped in the Church vestment department. Having lived in all our monasteries, she served as portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit & Life, spiritual director, seamstress, bookkeeper, and subprioress .
She helped initiate the Benedictine Oblate Program for our Congregation. Her educational interests included studies in Creative Writing, Philosophy, Art Design, Spiritual Formation, Psychology, Theology, and Art. Always reaching out to expand her knowledge, to stretch her mind, she was thrilled with the opportunity of one semester of study at St. Louis University as a guest of Fr. Futrell, SJ, for training in giving directed retreats. Before this she suffered an attack of appendicitis which brought her to death's door, but "for some reason the door wasn't opened." While in Tucson, Sr. M. Trinitas' persistent desire to finish college urged her to work for a B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Arizona. Her works of art are treasured in our monasteries: tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in the St. Louis monastery the large mural on our basement walls.
After participating in the Wholistic Growth Resources Program in Minnesota, Sr. M. Trinitas began an inner journey that would lead her on a "vision quest." On July 19, 1990 she began three years exclaustration while living and working in California. Her trust in God's provident care was deepened, and also challenged in unexpected ways! In August 1992 she became very ill, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and underwent surgery. The next two months were, in her words," a time of healing, a time to put closure on many things, a time for reflection and prayer." During these months she continued to give painting lessons to a few college people and friends, and some spiritual direction. In October 1992, she moved to Kansas to be near her family and have some quality time with them. When Sr. M. Trinitas decided to return to community, she was lovingly and warmly welcomed home.
She moved into St. Benedict Health Care Community at the St. Louis Monastery in January 1993. The next two years were marked with patient waiting. When told that she did not have long to live, Sr. M. Trinitas was ready to accept death, and was longing for that final communion with her God. But the agony of uncertainty and waiting was prolonged. She continued to participate in the liturgy of the hours, helped care for the vigil lights in chapel, and was present to us with her characteristic smile of serenity radiating from her face.
As we celebrated the sacred triduum, Sr. M. Trinitas, whose resurrection was imminent, imaged the gentle suffering Christ in her own paschal mystery. On Easter Tuesday she was still conscious, but too weak for a smile to break through until early the next morning when she passed from death to her glorious resurrection on April 19, 1995.
A gifted artist, she left, on the canvas of our lives, sketches of a gentle, loving presence, a peaceful smile of patience in the midst of suffering and waiting, a beautiful Self-portrait of her God. In the end, she taught us "the art of dying" through her life-giving presence in the face of the mystery of death.
Thank you, God,
for hands that touch
the rainbow in the sky
and then reach deeply
into the human spirit
to reproduce those shades
of joy and hope and peace.
(Marietta Crahanyosb)
The Courier-Tribune
Seneca, Kansas
April 26, 1995
Sister Trinitas Nordhus, 67, died April 19, 1995, in St. Benedict Health Care Center at St. Louis Monastery.
Norita Nordhus was born November 7, 1927, the oldest child of Leo and Nora Haverkamp Nordhus. She was educated at St. Mary's, St. Benedict Grade and High School. Norita entered the Benedictine Convent at Clyde, Missouri, on October 30, 1949, Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and professed her final vows November 9, 1956. During her years in the monastery she wored in the church vestement department, as a portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit and Life Magazine, as a spiritual director and as a bookkeeper. She was involved with starting the Benedictine Oblate Program and was a gifted artist. Some of works were tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in St. Louis, a mural covering the basement walls.
In 1992, she became ill and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Sister Trinitas is survived by her mother, Nora Nordhus; sisters and brothers, Leona Siess, Topeka, KS; Mary Beth Vondenkamp and David Nordhus, Seneca, KS; Albert Nordhus and Larry Nordhus, Centralia, KS; Clarence Nordhus, Baileyville, KS; and Florion Nordhus, Connell, WA.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leo Nordhus, in March 1993, and her sister, Celine Chu in August, 1990.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Louis Chapel on April 21, 1995, and in Clyde on April 22, 1995, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Clyde Monastery.
Eleanor Rita Anna Nordhus was born on a farm in Seneca, Kansas on November 7, 1927 and baptized the following day. She was the oldest of nine children, five boys and four girls, of her parents, Leo H. and Nora (Haverkamp) Nordhus. Norita's first year in school was class in a one-room country school with two boys in the first grade and one girl in the third grade. One of the boys, Robert Deters, became a Benedictine monk at Atchison, Kansas. The remainder of her school education came at St. Mary's parish school in St. Benedict, Kansas. Between her freshman and sophomore years she remained at home to help her mother who was expecting another child. After high school graduation, she attended Mt. St. Scholastica College in Atchison for one year, then again remained at home to be with her mother who was expecting another child. After a summer trip to California, a gift from her father, she had one more semester in college and a summer school session before leaving for the convent.
Norita entered at Clyde on the Feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1949, was invested on May 20,1950, and professed first vows on May 20,1951 receiving the name Sr. M. Trinitas. In February 1954 she was one of the twelve pioneers at our new foundation in San Diego, returning to Clyde for one year before her final profession of vows on November 9, 1956. During her first ten years in the monastery she helped in the Church vestment department. Having lived in all our monasteries, she served as portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit & Life, spiritual director, seamstress, bookkeeper, and subprioress .
She helped initiate the Benedictine Oblate Program for our Congregation. Her educational interests included studies in Creative Writing, Philosophy, Art Design, Spiritual Formation, Psychology, Theology, and Art. Always reaching out to expand her knowledge, to stretch her mind, she was thrilled with the opportunity of one semester of study at St. Louis University as a guest of Fr. Futrell, SJ, for training in giving directed retreats. Before this she suffered an attack of appendicitis which brought her to death's door, but "for some reason the door wasn't opened." While in Tucson, Sr. M. Trinitas' persistent desire to finish college urged her to work for a B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Arizona. Her works of art are treasured in our monasteries: tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in the St. Louis monastery the large mural on our basement walls.
After participating in the Wholistic Growth Resources Program in Minnesota, Sr. M. Trinitas began an inner journey that would lead her on a "vision quest." On July 19, 1990 she began three years exclaustration while living and working in California. Her trust in God's provident care was deepened, and also challenged in unexpected ways! In August 1992 she became very ill, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and underwent surgery. The next two months were, in her words," a time of healing, a time to put closure on many things, a time for reflection and prayer." During these months she continued to give painting lessons to a few college people and friends, and some spiritual direction. In October 1992, she moved to Kansas to be near her family and have some quality time with them. When Sr. M. Trinitas decided to return to community, she was lovingly and warmly welcomed home.
She moved into St. Benedict Health Care Community at the St. Louis Monastery in January 1993. The next two years were marked with patient waiting. When told that she did not have long to live, Sr. M. Trinitas was ready to accept death, and was longing for that final communion with her God. But the agony of uncertainty and waiting was prolonged. She continued to participate in the liturgy of the hours, helped care for the vigil lights in chapel, and was present to us with her characteristic smile of serenity radiating from her face.
As we celebrated the sacred triduum, Sr. M. Trinitas, whose resurrection was imminent, imaged the gentle suffering Christ in her own paschal mystery. On Easter Tuesday she was still conscious, but too weak for a smile to break through until early the next morning when she passed from death to her glorious resurrection on April 19, 1995.
A gifted artist, she left, on the canvas of our lives, sketches of a gentle, loving presence, a peaceful smile of patience in the midst of suffering and waiting, a beautiful Self-portrait of her God. In the end, she taught us "the art of dying" through her life-giving presence in the face of the mystery of death.
Thank you, God,
for hands that touch
the rainbow in the sky
and then reach deeply
into the human spirit
to reproduce those shades
of joy and hope and peace.
(Marietta Crahanyosb)
The Courier-Tribune
Seneca, Kansas
April 26, 1995
Sister Trinitas Nordhus, 67, died April 19, 1995, in St. Benedict Health Care Center at St. Louis Monastery.
Norita Nordhus was born November 7, 1927, the oldest child of Leo and Nora Haverkamp Nordhus. She was educated at St. Mary's, St. Benedict Grade and High School. Norita entered the Benedictine Convent at Clyde, Missouri, on October 30, 1949, Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and professed her final vows November 9, 1956. During her years in the monastery she wored in the church vestement department, as a portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit and Life Magazine, as a spiritual director and as a bookkeeper. She was involved with starting the Benedictine Oblate Program and was a gifted artist. Some of works were tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in St. Louis, a mural covering the basement walls.
In 1992, she became ill and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Sister Trinitas is survived by her mother, Nora Nordhus; sisters and brothers, Leona Siess, Topeka, KS; Mary Beth Vondenkamp and David Nordhus, Seneca, KS; Albert Nordhus and Larry Nordhus, Centralia, KS; Clarence Nordhus, Baileyville, KS; and Florion Nordhus, Connell, WA.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leo Nordhus, in March 1993, and her sister, Celine Chu in August, 1990.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Louis Chapel on April 21, 1995, and in Clyde on April 22, 1995, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Clyde Monastery.
Norita entered at Clyde on the Feast of Christ the King, October 30, 1949, was invested on May 20,1950, and professed first vows on May 20,1951 receiving the name Sr. M. Trinitas. In February 1954 she was one of the twelve pioneers at our new foundation in San Diego, returning to Clyde for one year before her final profession of vows on November 9, 1956. During her first ten years in the monastery she helped in the Church vestment department. Having lived in all our monasteries, she served as portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit & Life, spiritual director, seamstress, bookkeeper, and subprioress .
She helped initiate the Benedictine Oblate Program for our Congregation. Her educational interests included studies in Creative Writing, Philosophy, Art Design, Spiritual Formation, Psychology, Theology, and Art. Always reaching out to expand her knowledge, to stretch her mind, she was thrilled with the opportunity of one semester of study at St. Louis University as a guest of Fr. Futrell, SJ, for training in giving directed retreats. Before this she suffered an attack of appendicitis which brought her to death's door, but "for some reason the door wasn't opened." While in Tucson, Sr. M. Trinitas' persistent desire to finish college urged her to work for a B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Arizona. Her works of art are treasured in our monasteries: tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in the St. Louis monastery the large mural on our basement walls.
After participating in the Wholistic Growth Resources Program in Minnesota, Sr. M. Trinitas began an inner journey that would lead her on a "vision quest." On July 19, 1990 she began three years exclaustration while living and working in California. Her trust in God's provident care was deepened, and also challenged in unexpected ways! In August 1992 she became very ill, was diagnosed with lung cancer, and underwent surgery. The next two months were, in her words," a time of healing, a time to put closure on many things, a time for reflection and prayer." During these months she continued to give painting lessons to a few college people and friends, and some spiritual direction. In October 1992, she moved to Kansas to be near her family and have some quality time with them. When Sr. M. Trinitas decided to return to community, she was lovingly and warmly welcomed home.
She moved into St. Benedict Health Care Community at the St. Louis Monastery in January 1993. The next two years were marked with patient waiting. When told that she did not have long to live, Sr. M. Trinitas was ready to accept death, and was longing for that final communion with her God. But the agony of uncertainty and waiting was prolonged. She continued to participate in the liturgy of the hours, helped care for the vigil lights in chapel, and was present to us with her characteristic smile of serenity radiating from her face.
As we celebrated the sacred triduum, Sr. M. Trinitas, whose resurrection was imminent, imaged the gentle suffering Christ in her own paschal mystery. On Easter Tuesday she was still conscious, but too weak for a smile to break through until early the next morning when she passed from death to her glorious resurrection on April 19, 1995.
A gifted artist, she left, on the canvas of our lives, sketches of a gentle, loving presence, a peaceful smile of patience in the midst of suffering and waiting, a beautiful Self-portrait of her God. In the end, she taught us "the art of dying" through her life-giving presence in the face of the mystery of death.
Thank you, God,
for hands that touch
the rainbow in the sky
and then reach deeply
into the human spirit
to reproduce those shades
of joy and hope and peace.
(Marietta Crahanyosb)
The Courier-Tribune
Seneca, Kansas
April 26, 1995
Sister Trinitas Nordhus, 67, died April 19, 1995, in St. Benedict Health Care Center at St. Louis Monastery.
Norita Nordhus was born November 7, 1927, the oldest child of Leo and Nora Haverkamp Nordhus. She was educated at St. Mary's, St. Benedict Grade and High School. Norita entered the Benedictine Convent at Clyde, Missouri, on October 30, 1949, Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and professed her final vows November 9, 1956. During her years in the monastery she wored in the church vestement department, as a portress, in the bakery, as a writer for Spirit and Life Magazine, as a spiritual director and as a bookkeeper. She was involved with starting the Benedictine Oblate Program and was a gifted artist. Some of works were tabernacle designs, oil paintings, and in St. Louis, a mural covering the basement walls.
In 1992, she became ill and was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Sister Trinitas is survived by her mother, Nora Nordhus; sisters and brothers, Leona Siess, Topeka, KS; Mary Beth Vondenkamp and David Nordhus, Seneca, KS; Albert Nordhus and Larry Nordhus, Centralia, KS; Clarence Nordhus, Baileyville, KS; and Florion Nordhus, Connell, WA.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leo Nordhus, in March 1993, and her sister, Celine Chu in August, 1990.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Louis Chapel on April 21, 1995, and in Clyde on April 22, 1995, with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Clyde Monastery.
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