Memorial Service
Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel-
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Email Details
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1880 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN -
Visitation one hour prior to service.
Elizabeth Delmore, CSJ
August 11, 1921 — November 15, 2018
Elizabeth Delmore, CSJ
An earnest proponent of women in the Church, a vibrant woman with a pioneering spirit, strong sense of justice, and deep love of learning are just a few attributes those who knew her best use to describe Sister Elizabeth (St. Joan) Delmore, CSJ. Blessed and proud to be born in Roseau, MN, on August 11, 1921, she died peacefully on November 15, 2018 at Carondelet Village in St. Paul. Elizabeth joined the CSJ community in 1948. In 1943 she received a BS in Library Science from the College of St. Catherine and later a BA in English in 1951. An MA in English and Art History were awarded her from the University of Minnesota in 1966. It was during this time that Elizabeth began a 40 year career as librarian, serving many high schools including: St. Mary, Blaine, MN; Holy Angels, Minneapolis, MN; St. John Academy, Jamestown, ND; and St. James Academy, Grand Forks, ND. In 1959 Elizabeth returned to the College of St. Catherine where she served 10 years as Library Director and more than 20 years as faculty member. Two significant sabbaticals: a year shared in South Korea and Ireland, and three years in Vermont, allowed her to not only hone her library skills, but to enjoy a favorite hobby, mountain climbing. Upon retirement, Elizabeth served 7 years as chaplain in the cardiac unit of HealthEast St. Joseph’s Hospital, and later at Sisters Care, a CSJ service program offering dignity and aid to the elderly. Described as an “indefatigable spirit,” this great lover of books, nature, snowshoeing and life, will be missed by all who knew her.
Elizabeth is preceded in death by her parents Dr. John Leo Delmore and Mary Josephine (Mae) Frick Delmore; brothers Dr. John Delmore, Dr. Robert Delmore, James Patrick Delmore, and Dr. Charles Michael Delmore; sisters Marjorie Helen Delmore LaBonte and
Mary Phyllis Delmore Bray.
Elizabeth is survived by many devoted nieces & nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews; countless friends; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates.
Memorials preferred to The Sisters of St. Joseph Retirement Fund.
Sister Elizabeth, rest in love and peace.
The Eulogy for Elizabeth Delmore’s funeral -
Good morning. I am sure that each one of you has precious memories of Elizabeth. It is an honor to share some of mine. As you can see, you will have an opportunity to share yours this afternoon.
I was pleased to learn that in her funeral plans Elizabeth had chosen me to give the eulogy. Never mind that she had neglected to mention it to me.
Elizabeth, fondly called Lib by many of you, was faithful. Faithful to her family and friends; to the CSJ community, and to whatever work she was doing. Faithful to her roots in Roseau; she loved to return there, and found great satisfaction in publishing her genealogy. Once when we were returning from retreat in WI, it was a joy for her to find her brother’s grave.
Elizabeth had friends far and near. She befriended her neighbors, and thus met some Nigerians. This led her to go to Nigeria on her way home from Korea, where she had spent a year teaching English. Some of her Nigerian family have come to the funeral. Welcome!
Elizabeth excelled in hospitality. She was gracious and welcoming to whomever came to 812 Dayton, where she lived for several years, and when she moved to 1440 Randolph.
Her librarian mind-set was evident in her apt. Everything was in its place. I remember a hanging on her door that had buttons like campaign buttons from various places she had been. It was quite impressive.
Elizabeth was fit; she was a hiker with her walking stick. When she walked to Church at Immaculate Heart of Mary, she carried a home-made STOP sign to cross busy streets.
We both had a wonderful time the six months Elizabeth lived with me in Bethlehem. Bethlehem University owned a duplex convent. A small community of Sisters from the Philippines occupied one half. in 1990 I was going to be alone in the other half with 6 bedrooms. Our mutual friend, Sister Marquita had lived with me for 6 months. When she returned she told Elizabeth about her experiences.
So Elizabeth, ever-adventurous, came. While I worked at the University she went to Tantur, the Ecumenical Institute at the border of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, a little over a mile away. There she took classes and went on some trips, including one to Egypt. When Elizabeth travelled, she was lucky and smart. She returned from Egypt much earlier than people usually do from that trip which ends with a bus ride from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.
Since I was working, Elizabeth prepared our dinner; she was a good cook. We enjoyed watching news and comedies in English on Jordan TV. We prayed together and conversed. It was fun to be with her.
In Jerusalem it can be a challenge to cross a busy street. Elizabeth would take my hand and hold up her other hand to stop traffic, similar to her earlier use of her home-made STOP sign. Wonderful technique. We never had a close call.
We vacationed for a week on Cyprus, enjoying the beautiful island on bus tours. What I remember best is that we went swimming. It was March and cold, but since we were there, we were determined to swim.
Returning from that trip, as we disembarked , we got separated. I went to what I thought was the shortest line. Elizabeth finished several minutes ahead of me, and waited patiently, without complaining. She had a way of moving through a crowd that was assertive, yet not aggressive.
So many memories. She taught herself to recognize edible mushrooms, confidently picked them and served them. As Barb Whitlow said, it took an act of faith to eat them, and we lived to tell the tale.
Elizabeth was an avid reader. In the Arbor, the memory unit at Carondelet Village, she usually had a stack of books, sometimes reading more than one at a time. She had a mischievous streak, and sometines hid her hearing aids.
Elizabeth liked to camp, and went with different people. When I went with her, she said, “tell me your story.” I had never had an invitation like that before. I don’t recall what I said, nor even if I asked her to tell hers. I hope I did.
After Elizabeth quit camping in her 80’s, Barb Whitlow invited her to camp. Elizabeth bought a new tent, and set it up in her apt. to try it out, and took a nap in it.
Elizabeth worked tirelessly for Church Reform, including the ordination of women. She supported Roman Catholic Women Priests, and we went to a few ordinations together. She read The National Catholic Reporter, and donated to it.
Elizabeth also supported Dorothy Irvin’s annual calendar that featured pictures of tombstones and frescoes from the early centuries of Christianity that showed women in positions of authority and leadership in the Church. Fine as that work was, there is still plenty to do. Let’s hope that in her new life Elizabeth can continue to further the cause of equal rights for women in the Church.
Mary Bray gave me Elizabeth’s copy of Rilke’s Book of Hours, Love Poems to God. From the introduction, Elizabeth underlined: “Let the intelligence of life work through us, so we can learn again to live simply, in kinship with creation.”
I conclude with this poem by Rilke.
I live my life in widening circles/that reach out across the world.
I may not ever complete the last one, /but I give myself to it.
I circle around God, that primordial tower/ I have been circling for thousands of years.
And I still don’t know: am I a falcon, a storm, or a great song?
AMEN. ALLELUIA!
Florence Steichen, CSJ
Eulogy, Elizabeth Delmore’s Funeral
November 27, 2018
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