Sister Jean Margaret Black, BVM
Sister Jean Margaret Black, BVM, 98, died Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Mount Carmel Bluffs, in Dubuque, Iowa.
Visitation, the Sharing of Memories and Mass of Christian Burial were on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. Burial was in the Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Sister Jean Margaret was born on Aug. 30, 1923, in Holbrook, Iowa, to John and Mary (McCarty) Black. She entered the BVM congregation Feb. 2, 1945, from St. Michel Parish, Holbrook, Iowa. She professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1947, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1952.
Sister Jean Margaret was an elementary teacher at Visitation in Des Moines, Iowa; Hayes Catholic in Muscatine, Iowa; St. Mary in Lincoln, Neb.; St. Bridget in Omaha, Neb.; Immaculate Conception in Butte, Mont.; and St. Thomas More and St. Philip in San Francisco.
“Jean Margaret’s vivacious spirit continued to shine as she dealt with increasing memory issues. She always desired to be most hospitable and was deeply concerned if she sensed that anyone was in any way distressed. She was quite determined and liked to be in charge like when she called bingo numbers. After moving to the Gables at Mount Carmel Bluffs, Jean Margaret could be found sitting near the fireplace stroking a stuffed cat, still smiling and talking to anyone who passed by.” (Eulogy).
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Sister Joanita Black, BVM, Kathleen Black, Margaret Black, Florence Black, and Helen Black; and a brother Joseph Black. She is survived by a brother Harold “Jerry” (Jane) Black, Coralville, Iowa; a sister-in-law Madonna Black, Williamsburg, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 77 years.
Memorials may be given to Sisters of Charity, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003 or online at https://www.bvmsisters.org/support_donate.cfm.
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Sister Jean taught my kids, in Omaha, in the late 1980s. My kids feel that she was the best teacher they ever had. My wife and I agree and she was a great friend. We just loved her! Sister Jean is one person I know will be with God in paradise.
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I had Sr Jean as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher at St Bridget’s in Omaha in the early 1980s. She was a great teacher. She, more than any other teacher, helped me to learn to read effectively. After those two years with her, I was no longer behind my peers but rather usually ahead. Later that translated into college scholarships/degree. Although I had many great teachers along the way, Sr Jean’s dedication to me, provided me the fundamental skills I absolutely needed to grow.
John D. Peralta
La Vista, Nebraska -
Sr. Jean Margaret Black and Sr. Mary Joanita Black were my first cousins. I was considerably younger than all of my paternal first cousins, so they felt more like beloved aunts and uncles (I was born in 1951). Sr. Jean Margaret’s birth name was Dorothy and Sr. Mary Joanita’s birth name was Agnes, which confused me. Family members would call the two sister-sisters by their birth names and their BVM names (or I called them their “nunly” names), so I thought they were actually four people. Sr. Jean Margaret was perfect grandma material, and she always let us all know how much we were loved, because each of us younger cousins (including the children of my older first cousins) were called “Honey Bunch.” “How are my Honey Bunches today?”
I have wonderfully warm and tender memories of Sr. Jean Margaret in particular, as she spent a great deal of time with her family in Iowa City and Coralville. God bless you, Sr. Jean Margaret. I love you.
Sister Jean taught my kids, in Omaha, in the late 1980s. My kids feel that she was the best teacher they ever had. My wife and I agree and she was a great friend. We just loved her! Sister Jean is one person I know will be with God in paradise.
I had Sr Jean as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher at St Bridget’s in Omaha in the early 1980s. She was a great teacher. She, more than any other teacher, helped me to learn to read effectively. After those two years with her, I was no longer behind my peers but rather usually ahead. Later that translated into college scholarships/degree. Although I had many great teachers along the way, Sr Jean’s dedication to me, provided me the fundamental skills I absolutely needed to grow.
John D. Peralta
La Vista, Nebraska
Sr. Jean Margaret Black and Sr. Mary Joanita Black were my first cousins. I was considerably younger than all of my paternal first cousins, so they felt more like beloved aunts and uncles (I was born in 1951). Sr. Jean Margaret’s birth name was Dorothy and Sr. Mary Joanita’s birth name was Agnes, which confused me. Family members would call the two sister-sisters by their birth names and their BVM names (or I called them their “nunly” names), so I thought they were actually four people. Sr. Jean Margaret was perfect grandma material, and she always let us all know how much we were loved, because each of us younger cousins (including the children of my older first cousins) were called “Honey Bunch.” “How are my Honey Bunches today?”
I have wonderfully warm and tender memories of Sr. Jean Margaret in particular, as she spent a great deal of time with her family in Iowa City and Coralville. God bless you, Sr. Jean Margaret. I love you.