Sister Joeine Darrington, 99, died Feb. 3, 2015. She was born on June 16, 1915 in Nihill, Mont., to John and Ernestine (Lohrke) Darrington. She was baptized on June 4, 1916 at St. Joseph Church in Harlowton, Mont., and given the name, Ellen.
In her biography, Sister Joeine wrote of her happy childhood on the farm where she rode her horse and brought in the cows for milking. They rode the 12 miies to church in a two-seated buggy drawn by two horses. With her two older siblings, she walked a mile and a half to a one-room school. She remembered the excitement of branding and harvesting days on the farm. Eventually the family moved to Harlowton where she finished elementary and high school, graduating in 1932.
After graduation, Sister Joeine went to Portland, Ore., to join her sister, Marie. She did housework for a year for room and board and $5 a month. The next year she attended Mt. Angel Normal School and then joined the Benedictine Sisters in 1934. She made her first profession on Feb. 11, 1937.
She continued her education, earning a bachelor of science from Mt. Angel College, a master’s in business education from the University of Oregon, and a Ph.D in Education from the University of Portland. She was a member of several professional organizations, including the National Catholic Education Association.
Sister Joeine will be remembered for her long and fruitful life as a teacher. She began teaching elementary grades, then high school in Mt. Angel Academy, where she served as principal for several years. Later she taught at North Catholic in Portland and Kennedy High School in Mt. Angel. At Mt. Angel College she taught classes in business, sociology, and education. She also taught summer classes at Montana State College in Bozeman. Her last teaching assignment was in the public elementary school in Molalla. While there, she made many lasting friends who for the last 30 years met yearly to celebrate her birthday.
After retirement, Sister Joeine served on the Benedictine Foundation Board, and as alumni director. She ministered to prison inmates and regularly attended weddings, birthday parties and funerals. A born extrovert, she was a friend, and often counselor, who remembered names and faces and managed to keep in touch with former students, alums, colleagues, as well as her own extended family. Her last years were spent in the monastery Health Care Center, where she continued to celebrate birthdays, reunions, and life in general with her Benedictine Sisters and friends.
Sister Joeine was deeply devoted to Benedictine community life. Until her last two weeks, she was regularly at her place in chapel for prayer. Whenever possible she came to the dining room for lunch and the opportunity to chat with her Sisters and friends. She attended community meetings and took interest in whatever was happening around her. In January she contracted a cold, which turned into pneumonia. After a short time in the hospital she was able to return home, weakened but apparently recovering. On Feb. 3, after visiting with several Sisters during the day, she died quietly in her room at 7:30 p.m.
Sister Joeine is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Her niece and namesake Joeine Thomas and her husband have been regular visitors to the monastery. Preceding Sister Joeine in death were her parents, her brother John Darrington, and her sisters Marie Schmitz, Margaret (Peggie) Sullivan, Frances Echler and Irene Arpin.
A Vigil Service was held Feb. 5. Mass of Resurrection was celebrated in Queen of Angels Monastery Chapel Feb. 6, followed by burial in the monastery cemetery.
