Sister Regis Egger
Born April 3, 1916, Fruitvale (Grand Junction), Colorado Entered St. Walburg Monastery January 10, 1940 Received habit, June 28, 1940 Made First Profession, June 30, 1941 Died April 16, 2012 |
Sister Regis Egger, OSB, was born to Joseph and Mary Magdalena Friedman Egger on April 3,
1916 at (Fruitvale) Grand Junction, CO and given the name Loretta Frances at her baptism.
Seventeen children, seven boys and ten girls, were born to the Egger family, three of whom died
in infancy. The area where the Eggers lived was mountainous, beautiful country where hard work
was a necessity. In her early twenties Loretta met Fr. Regis Barrett, OSB, a friend of two
Benedictines of St. Walburg Monastery. It was to this monastery that he directed her and
where she was received as a postulant on January 10, 1940. Loretta became a novice, Sister Regis,
on June 28, 1940. She made first and perpetual monastic profession in 1941 and 1944, and
celebrated silver, golden and diamond jubilees in 1966, 1991, and 2001.
Early in her religious life Sr. Regis taught elementary school for two years at Villa Madonna
Academy and St. Henry. The Benedictine community had moved into health care during this time.
Sr. Regis then trained in x-ray and medical technology. At St. Elizabeth Hospital she was the first
med tech to graduate. With few interruptions Sr. Regis served over thirty years at Santa Fe
Hospital, LaJunta CO; St. Joseph Hospital, Florence, CO; and Estill County/Marcum Wallace
Hospital in Irvine, KY.
In 1982 Sr. Regis met Sr. Catherine Hurley, a Servite sister, working at the Appalachian
Servite Mission in Harlan, KY. Other Benedictines were working in the area so Sr. Regis joined
Sr. Catherine in serving the Appalachian poor. Serving the needy in every way, living among the
people and giving of herself became the work closest to her heart. During a visit to Harlan in 2004
Sr. Regis had a bad fall and in time moved to the infirmary. This past year she slowly weakened.
Death came peacefully on April 16, 2012. Sr. Regis is survived by three sisters: Gladys Garlitz,
Regina Imbruglia, Rose Ann Young and a brother, R. Daniel Egger, as well as by many nieces
and nephews and the Benedictine community. Her funeral took place on Monday, April 23, 2012
followed by burial at St. Walburg Monastery.