Sr. Michael Ann Aubin, age 92 of the Srs. of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died Saturday, June 11, 2016 at the convent. Born November 3, 1923 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, she is the daughter of Marguerite (Nee: Miller) and Arthur Aubin.
Sr. Michael Ann entered the convent September 4, 1941 and made her final vows August 12, 1947. She taught from 1943 until 1993. Schools included Little Flower in Indianapolis, Indiana, St. Vincent’s Orphanage in Vincennes, Indiana, St. Andrew’s in Richmond, Indiana, St. Mary’s in Greensburg, Indiana, St. John the Baptist in Dover, Indiana, St. Joseph’s in St. Leon, Indiana, St. Mary’s in Lanesville, Indiana, St. Lawrence in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, St. Joseph of Nazareth and St Leo’s in Cincinnati, Ohio, St. Mary’s in Middletown, Ohio and Sacred Heart in Troy, Missouri before retiring to the motherhouse in 1993.
Eleanor was the third of five children born to Arthur and Marguerite (Miller) Aubin of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The family moved to Richmond, Indiana when Eleanor was five, and lived in a home with her grandparents residing on the second floor and Eleanor and her family on the first floor. Eleanor’s father was a machinist and her mother was a teacher, and it seemed teaching was in Eleanor’s blood.
The eager student attended St. Andrew School where she first met the Franciscan Sisters. When she was in the fourth grade, her eldest brother, Henry, had just finished the seventh grade when he left home to enter the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in Granby, Canada. Later, in 1947 Eleanor took her final vows as a Sister of St. Francis and became “S. Michael Aubin”, and in 1961, her younger brother, Rev. Joseph Aubin, was ordained a priest in the Lansing, MI diocese. Three of the five Aubin children entered religious life, while her sisters Lillian and Mary Ann later married and the two families gave S. Michael Ann a total of 13 nieces and nephews.
Sr. Michael Ann would often reflect upon her years as a young child when the family made trips to Oldenburg to visit her dad’s sister, Sr. Madeleine Aubin who ministered in Montana and returned to Oldenburg during the summer. Visiting with the large community of Sisters and seeing how happy they were greatly influenced Sr. Michael Ann’s decision to enter religious life.
Those who knew Sr. Michael Ann knew of her love of baseball and the Cincinnati Reds. She listened to most every game as her transistor radio was her constant companion. She was known for her great sense of humor, and in addition to educating young students, her interests included singing, crocheting, sorting stamps, and tending to roses. Having lived in Richmond, the “City of Roses,” left a special place in her heart for all the beauty of God’s earth, especially His roses.
Earlier this year Sr. Michael Ann celebrated her 75th Jubilee, and when reflecting upon her favorite prayer, she commented, “My favorite prayer is the rosary. Devotion to our Blessed Mother, Mary, has been special for me. My aunt, Sr. Madeline, sent me a rosary every Christmas while I was growing up. Now in my aging years, holding the rosary and the repetition of the Hail Mary is easy and helps keep my mind focused on the mysteries. Praying and holding the rosary brings comfort and peace each day to my heart and soul.”
Rest in peace good and faithful servant, may you know the beauty of God’s dwelling place while watching over the Reds and reminding us to stop and smell the roses and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.
She is survived by her sister Lillian Mendenhall of Englewood, Florida, brother Rev. Joseph Aubin of DeWitt, Michigan as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by sister Mary Ann Courchaine and brother Henry Aubin.
Visitation is Thursday, June 16th, from 1 – 3 p.m. at the convent chapel. Funeral services follow at 3 p.m. with her brother Rev. Joseph Aubin officiating and Rev. Robert Weakley O.F.M. co-concelebrating. Burial will follow in the convent cemetery. Memorials may be made to Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org). Weigel Funeral Home, Batesville, IN, is in charge of arrangements.